Meet you across the sea

by Eatjintae

Summary:

Prince Seokjin was battling with his self-discovery and fled the kingdom, leaving behind his first love, Taehyung, the equestrian's son and his best friend.

10 years later, he finds him again on another desolate island. And Seokjin discovers how time is never a factor when it comes to love.

Notes:

• In response to a prompt by Anonymous in the Taejin Fest collection.

Prince Seokjin was supposed to have his father, the king, as his role model. His beacon. That was the natural path to act in accordance to the fact that he was next in line to the throne. This was something he was supposed to do, but unfortunately, Seokjin couldn’t. As he got older, and the years progressed, the more he was determined to not follow his father's footsteps. While the kingdom flourished and celebrated what a remarkable king his father was, they had no idea what occurred behind closed doors. Myung Kim, 25th king to the kingdom of Silvyr, a kingdom abundant in naturally homegrown and harvested crops, and well known for their protection of animals. He was often dubbed as kindhearted and selfless, but this was mainly because King Myung strived to maintain a certain image for townsfolk outside the castle. As Prince Seokjin matured, he stumbled upon numerous immoral acts which caused him to question his father’s moral judgements. He was involved in corruption, while he found a way to convince the kingdom of Silvyr that the money was going to a good cause to solidify the foundation of the kingdom, Prince Seokjin witnessed firsthand how it went to his father’s pockets instead. His father also had a steadfast credence that slavery and torture was a necessity, it was something Prince Seokjin could never begin to comprehend. If someone were to foolishly muster up the courage and directly question King Myung’s decisions, that person would be brutally tortured and imprisoned for as long as the king wanted before ultimately meeting their untimely death. 

More often than not, when Prince Seokjin was required to attend classes in order to train as the next king in line for the throne, something he never wanted in the first place, he would sneak out of the castle and hide in the western fringes of the castle, where the stables and the stall barbs were located. This was Seokjin’s safe haven, a place he often ventured out to in order to escape reality, even for just a little while. 
During one of his many hiding sessions, while he was crouched down, hiding inside one of the humongous stables, someone tapped him on the shoulder, and for a minute, Seokjin thought that he has been caught by one of the kingdom’s scholars and was about to receive a scolding for constantly dodging his academic lessons, but to his surprise, a doe-eyed boy wearing soiled and tattered clothing, who had the wildest locks on the top of his head, met his eyes instead. He tilted his head to the side, almost wondering out loud what someone like Seokjin, who was decked in the finest silks from the top of his head all the way down to his ankles, was doing crouching down with his leather soles bathing in filth. Knowing that he was caught red handed intentionally failing to attend his classes, he hastily began rummaging through his brain for an excuse to supply. 

“I.. Um.. It’s really not what you think it is. I’m.. checking on the welfare of the horses.” He stammered out. Somehow his excuse was more believable in his head. The boy standing behind him had to be around his age, if not, even younger, surely his excuse was viable. 

The boy broke out into an unabashed, boisterous chortle, even clutching his stomach in the process. “With all due respect, sire, but the stallions are located in the next barn. This stable was built to house the incoming foals, but for the most part, it’s empty.” 

Seokjin felt the heat rising in his body, he was inevitably about to turn several shades redder due to embarrassment. He couldn’t even find his way around the castle grounds, how was he expected to rule an entire kingdom in the future? If anything, his embarrassment gave him yet another reason to detest his title. “Oh. I knew that. I was just checking this stable’s.. condition.” 

The young boy broke out into a smile, extending his hand out. “I like you. You’re funny. Kim Taehyung, future equestrian in training.” 

Seokjin contemplated whether he should make up a fake identity, but concluded that it wouldn’t be necessary. He didn’t have any friends, other kids his age were too intimated by his status, and children from other kingdoms were mostly stuck up and pompous, and he didn’t think they would ever get along. The boy standing in front of him was warm and approachable, and could potentially be his first real friend. Friendships shouldn’t be established with false pretenses and deceit, he decided to tell the truth. “Kim Seokjin, crown prince to the kingdom of Silvyr, currently in hiding to avoid another dreaded lesson involving foreign affairs. Promise not to tell on me?”

He took the boy named Taehyung’s hand and shook it with a pleasant smile. 
“The c-crown prince? Forgive my manners, please don’t have me executed.” He was about to kneel on the soiled ground when Seokjin grabbed his arm, refraining him from doing so. 

“That’s not necessary, Taehyung-ssi. I’d appreciate it if we could become.. friends.” Even uttering the word out loud sounded foreign in his ears, truthfully, Seokjin didn’t know if Taehyung wanted to be associated to him, but this was the only chance he ever got to meet anyone outside of the castle, especially someone within the same age group as he was in. So he put on his most hopeful smile as he waited for Taehyung’s response. 

Taehyung blinked several times, lost in his own thoughts. 

“A-are you sure that’s alright? I would love to become friends with you, my prince, but I’m not sure if that’s permitted.” He hesitantly spoke out. 

Seokjin realized that he was still awkwardly holding on to the sleeve on Taehyung’s arm, he released it almost immediately. “What they don’t know won’t kill them. Or at least that’s what I overheard from one of the housekeepers in the castle.” 

Taehyung looked down at the ground before breaking out into a small smile. “Very well, my prince. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.” 

And that was how Seokjin, crown prince of the kingdom of Silvyr, made his first friend at the ripe age of 12. 

 

He spent seven years establishing a daily routine with Taehyung. During his regular afternoon lessons, he would sneak out of the castle whenever he could, scurrying off towards the stables to idly spend his time with the kingdom’s most prominent equestrian’s son, who was also in charge of raising the royal family’s stallions, Taehyung. The time he spent with Taehyung was the only glimpses of liberation in his life, whenever he sneaked out, he was free to do whatever he pleased as long as he remained discreet enough to not catch any unwanted attention. They often opted to spend time at a breathtaking meadow not too far from the castle, it was a wide area filled with lush greenery and sometimes they would just spend hours basking underneath the sun’s rays, either talking about any fleeting topic that would enter their minds, or take a nap together with the breeze subtly blowing against them, rustling the grassy fields surrounding them. These were the Seokjin’s most cherished days since being as far as he could be from his obligations meant inner peace. And Taehyung was honestly the best company he could have asked for. During their first few meetings, Taehyung was reasonably on his best behavior, iffy and polite. But the more time they spent together, the more realization dawned upon Taehyung that like even if he possessed royalty in his blood, he was just like the rest of them. A normal kid coursing through this adventure called life. Slowly, he began to ease himself into their budding friendship, until it eventually bloomed into what it was today. 
Taehyung himself never really got along with the rest of the children his age, he was always dubbed as ‘a strange kid who had his head in the clouds’, eventually disclosing this piece of information to Seokjin, who then reassured him that the rest of them were too bleak and ordinary for Taehyung’s extraordinary personality, and that he was perfectly fine the way he was. The one thing Taehyung never expected to find in Seokjin was the concept of comfort, he gradually became the epitome of the word in Taehyung’s eyes. There were days wherein he felt the massive pressure to surpass, or even match the prestige his father has attained as a renowned equestrian. He was the best in the kingdom, and this pushed Taehyung to strive harder to meet his expectations, not knowing his father didn’t have any for Taehyung, he would be proud of his son regardless of what he may or may not achieve. 

This was a relatable topic for Seokjin, who was presented a daily reminder that he was in fact, next in line to a throne and kingdom he didn’t even want. Seokjin has experienced his fair share of memories blissful enough to be labelled as happy memories, but somehow these memories couldn’t overshadow the amount of hardships he had to endure thanks to his title. Not only did he have to associate himself with conflicts concerning the kingdom he was designated to reign over someday, but he had to watch from the sidelines as his father committed morally questionable decisions for his own benefit. At a tender age, Seokjin was taught to firmly speak up for what he believed in, but this wasn’t the case when it came to his father, the king, because the moment he spoke up, he would be exiled, or even worse, beheaded. It was contradicting, and for a good chunk of his life, he felt helpless and lost. Thankfully, Taehyung was there for him for the most part, always willing to lend an ear to him and would comfort him with his bright smile. It made the days bearable, and more often than not, he missed the younger’s presence. He would sneak out of the castle grounds whenever he saw an opportunity to do so, leaving the chambermaids in utter distress whenever they discovered that the young prince wasn’t where he was supposed to be. 

When Taehyung was feeling extra mischievous, he would even go as far as sneaking Seokjin out of the castle’s premises and bringing him along into town. This was the only time Seokjin could freely walk the streets of Silvyr, and blend amongst the townspeople. He keenly observed how most people made an honest living and how they went about with their daily lives. It was fascinating, but more importantly, they were free to do whatever they wanted, free to mingle with whoever they wanted and nobody was going to bat an eye and make snide remarks about it. He enjoyed leisurely walking around the marketplace, hearing townsfolk bartering and haggling to get the best deals possible, while the vendors often gave in to their whims just to make a sale. Children were freely roaming around the streets, laughter erupting in every corner. But Seokjin had a favorite spot in town, the one place that provided him with the most serene type of comfort.

Over by the edge of town was a small port where ships would dock and depart from, containing wooden crates filled with fresh harvest to deliver to the neighboring towns. It was always beguiling to Seokjin how these people came from different walks of life but were bound to each other because they shared the love for the sea and the adventure that awaited them. He and Taehyung liked to sit on the edge of the piers, and talk while the waves crashed before them. If they were lucky enough, they even caught glimpses of the sky changing its hues as the sun bid farewell to give way to the moon. These were the moments that left a lasting impression on Seokjin, the ones imprinted to his core memory. He relished moments like these since they came so rare and often. There were instances wherein Taehyung was worried that they’d get caught by the castle guards, but Seokjin assured him that he concealed most of his features and hid them well enough to wander around unnoticed.

 
This was how seven years zipped by in a blink of an eye, Seokjin bolting away from his duties whenever he could, and spending his free time with Taehyung. Countless confessions were shared, as well as a great deal of laughter and innumerable burdens unloaded within those joint years spent together. Not only was Taehyung Seokjin’s only friend, he was his closest companion, the one person he trusted in this world. Things were carefree with Taehyung, his worries dispersed like the wind once Taehyung’s bright smile came to view. Sometimes he even forgot that he was a prince, since titles and hierarchy was something Seokjin never gave any importance to. Seokjin has even had dinner with Taehyung and his father on a couple of occasions, despite how most people would probably comment about how odd it was that a member of the royal family was rubbing elbows with a commoner, Taehyung’s father was gratefully, the opposite of most people. He welcomed Seokjin into their little family with open arms and sworn to secrecy regarding their friendship. 

During one instance when Taehyung was preoccupied with something, his father even thanked Seokjin for being a great friend to his son, and the conversation ended with his father mentioning how he considered Seokjin to be something akin to his second son, a simple remark which left a huge impact on Seokjin. He admired the close relationship Taehyung shared with his father, and couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy since his relationship with his father was.. barely there. Although Seokjin shared somewhat of a close relationship with his mother, it still frustrated him to no end how impotent and feeble she became in front of his father. She feared him, and tirelessly kept mum about her personal opinions. It wasn’t a secret that the king had numerous affairs, multiple lovers on the side which even Seokjin’s mother knew about. 

It was difficult to understand why his usually strong, resilient mother transformed into someone so inadequate, losing her self confidence entirely whenever the king was around. But it was an even more difficult feat to find lovable, or even likable traits when it came to his father, the king. 

This was one of the things Seokjin found himself revealing to Taehyung during one of their afternoons basking in the meadows. 
“I know that hate is a strong word, but I think I really, truthfully hate him, Taehyung-ah.” He muttered into the wind. 

Taehyung, at this time, was donning a beret which he used to shade his eyes from the sun’s rays. “I can see why you would detest him as much as you do, but my prince..”

“I told you to stop calling me that. It feels strange coming from you.” Seokjin cited with a giggle. 

“Seokjin.” Taehyung corrected himself. “It’s a waste of energy to hate someone. Life is too short.” 

It still bewildered Seokjin how Taehyung, more often than not, sounded wise beyond his years. He was constantly learning from the younger. “Perhaps you’re right. I just want to run away sometimes, you know.”

“The time might arise someday.” Taehyung supplied, plucking a long leaf from the ground and keeping it between his lips. 

“I’m not sure about that. Besides, I would be leaving you behind. I don’t think I could live with that.” 

Taehyung giggled, the leaf pressed against his lips was picked up by the wind as he removed the beret from his face, placing it on the ground while he sat up, hugging his knees. “You’re quite dramatic, as always. But I understand, I can’t imagine life without you too.” The corners of his lips curling up. “My father says our paths were destined to cross, in one way or another, so if you ever end up leaving this wretched kingdom, I believe we’ll find each other again.” 

“If we were destined to meet, then I’d like to believe the same.” The sky was setting much earlier than usual, Seokjin had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, it was a premonition of sorts, a foreboding warning. 

 

The next two weeks things continued as they normally would, Seokjin would sneak out of the castle to meet up with Taehyung during the late afternoons. He also was fortunate enough to see him whenever he had designated riding lessons with Taehyung’s father, they of course had to pretend to not know each other since numerous castle guards often accompanied the prince during his private lessons. They still had their ways to interact with each other which was discreetly done so that the guards wouldn’t take notice. Whenever Seokjin would mount his horse, Moon, Taehyung would take his hand hoisting him up the mountain block, it was often a challenge to maintain a straight face while doing so. Or sometimes, he would assist the prince when it came to finding the proper position, subtle brushes to his back, aligning his hips to ensure that he was properly mounted, and when Taehyung was feeling bold enough, he would even sneak in a few tickles here and there. It was unnerving to have your most entrusted companion within arms reach and not be able to converse in a friendly manner. Taehyung was content to watch from the sidelines as Seokjin merrily galloped in circles alongside his father, learning the basics under his teaching. Seokjin abhorred how he was constantly reminded that no matter the amount of similarities he and Taehyung shared as individuals, society was insistently pointing out how they couldn’t share a friendship, or any kind of relationship, simply because of the difference in regards of their social status. Seokjin took every opportunity to see Taehyung, whether it was brisk stolen glances, or glances taken from a vast distance, it was meaningful to him all the same. 

 

During nightfall, whenever Seokjin had trouble sleeping, he would take short walks in the castle’s courtyard gardens, which was still inside the castle’s premises, so he was permitted to wander around as much as he wished. Next to the town’s pier, as well as the stables where he often met Taehyung, this was his next favorite spot. It boasted a large fountain in the middle, as well as flower walls containing possibly every variation of flowers this kingdom had to offer. It was rows upon rows of colorful blooms, and by simply stepping foot in the area was enough to relax Seokjin. He had a sheer robe on top of his pajamas, as he waltzed around the garden with his bedroom slippers, if his father caught sight of this, he would probably suffer from a stroke by how humiliating it is to saunter around the castle grounds in such a disgraceful attire. He outstretched his arms, feeling the velvet texture of petals graze his fingertips, until a chambermaid called his attention, reminding him that he had to put a halt to his stroll since it was time to scurry back to his bedroom before the night guards made their rounds. Seokjin obliged, although his stroll was cut short, and the point was to exhaust himself until he felt tired enough to sleep. 

He returned to his chambers, wide awake as he laid in bed, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. Suddenly recalling a kitchen catastrophe that occurred earlier in the day regarding a blunder one of the kingdom chefs caused and how much he couldn’t wait to see Taehyung to retell the story. He stilled, wondering why he felt such a strong urge to tell Taehyung all of a sudden. And it’s not like this was the first time this happened, it occurred more often than not and Seokjin was merely realizing this now. He shifted in his bed, sheets rustling as he tossed and turned trying to figure out just when Taehyung became a resident occupant of his mind, taking up a permanent space solely for himself. Yes, they were friends, but was that all there was to it? 

The more Seokjin pondered on this, the more he was beginning to piece together little puzzles of one big picture. Sometimes, when the light hit Taehyung’s face at just the right angle, Seokjin would find himself staring in awe, admiring Taehyung’s beauty. Or sometimes, Taehyung would tell him a silly story and he was thoroughly invested and enthralled all the same, as if every word out of Taehyung’s mouth was as equally fascinating. Or sometimes, Seokjin would fervently wish for things to be different, harboring thoughts wherein he wasn’t the crown prince, and Taehyung wasn’t someone he couldn’t freely parade around the entire kingdom with. Simply because Taehyung deserved to be paraded around the kingdom, Taehyung deserved to be recognized for the amazing person that he was, and Taehyung deserved to be loved in every size, shape or form. Simply put, Taehyung deserved it all, and Seokjin began to admit to himself that he wanted to be the person in charge of giving these things which Taehyung deserved. Since perhaps Seokjin may have loved him more than a friend. He’s unsure of when the lines began to blur together for him, when he started to set foot towards the line which surpassed their established friendship. Seven years together, it wasn’t impossible that in the midst of it all, Seokjin fell in love, whether or not he was aware of it. If the drawn out gazes, and doting smiles he handed out to Taehyung wasn’t already a profound indication to begin with, then maybe the way he constantly yearned to see Taehyung, no matter how short of a time he was given, could have been an obvious hint. There were several instances wherein he thinks he may have fallen in love, but at the same time, there were countless of small moments that held more significance in Seokjin’s eyes. But at the end of the day, the prince had fallen in love. Guilelessly and naturally. 

Then another realization hit him, except this one was opposing the blissful state Seokjin was in, when he realized that he may love Taehyung a little more than a friend, this realization was a grueling reminder of why it wasn’t wise to allow himself to fall in love in the first place. 

How could he ever openly be with Taehyung when his father would probably have his head for coming out as a homosexual? It was bad enough that Seokjin was labelled as a rebel prince for not choosing to participate in kingdom activities which would also serve as his training before receiving the throne, but if his father ever found out that he was in love with another man, that would certainly be the end of Seokjin’s life as he knew it. 

Petrification followed, he went over the potential ways he could disclose this vital information about his preferences in life, and none of which ended up in a positive scenario. He sighed into the plush pillow, why couldn’t he just love freely like everyone else? His father would probably kill him off first, before even considering Seokjin’s happiness. Seokjin buried his face into the pillow, wishing he would miraculously wake up on a desolate island without bringing along the dreaded feeling in the pit of his stomach. As the night progressively granted him the slumber he’s been seeking for. 

 

The next afternoon, the prince was determined to tell his mother about his moment of self awareness, figuring that she, of all people, would somehow understand. He searched in the various rooms, hoping to catch her alone, but ended up empty-handed. She wasn’t in the master bedroom, neither was she in the castle’s library, and she wasn’t in the garden either. Seokjin stood in the middle of the hallway contemplating where he should head to next, when a member of the royal knight guards called Seokjin’s attention. 

“His highness would like to have a word with you, my prince.” 

Great. It was still early in the morning and his father was already searching for him. To make matters worse, he wanted to tell his mother the first chance he got, afraid that his confidence would falter the longer he prolonged it. Nonetheless, he followed the guard who led him towards the main dining hall, where his father was seated by the head of the table, per usual, and his mother, sitting right next to him on his left. Seokjin took the empty seat towards his right, eyes darting around, observing how both of his parents seemed to be on the edge of something they could not speak about. 

“You called for me, father?” 

“Ah yes. Seokjin, my boy, have a seat.”
A butler pulled back Seokjin’s heavy seat for him, pushing it back towards the table, along with Seokjin’s weight on it. He waited for his father to speak up again. 

“You’ll be meeting someone very important today.” He informed Seokjin, neatly cutting his meat into thinly chopped slices. 

“May I ask who?” 
He looked over to his mother, who kept her eyes trained below, staring at the empty plate in front of her. 

The king raised his glass filled with wine, it didn’t matter whether or not it was too early in the morning to be drinking alcoholic beverages, it’s not like there was anyone in the kingdom who could react negatively to this, especially since most people still valued their lives. 

“A toast?” 

Seokjin brought up his glass containing nothing but spring water to clink their glasses together as a sign of respect. 

“The mystery guest for today is your future wife. Your fiancée. It’s about time you settled down and..” 

The room seemed to fizzle in and out, Seokjin managed to successfully drown out the rest of his father’s statement as he digested his words. 
Wife? Fiancée? He was about to be involved in an unwanted arranged marriage and he was merely learning about this now? 

The timing was impeccable as always, no wonder his mother couldn’t keep still for a few seconds. 

“I’m getting married? So soon?” He raised his concern in an utterly bewildered state. 

The king merely smirked. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been years and not once have you ever brought anyone back home, I think it’s about time that I intervened. Besides, it would further benefit our kingdom and strengthen our ties with the kingdom of Astra.” 

Of fucking course it was connected to how his father would ultimately benefit something from this wedding, that’s the way it always was. It was unfair and tiring, but Seokjin couldn’t do anything to prevent it from happening to him, it came with the title after all. Another item to add to his growing list of things that didn’t interest him or rather, aspects he didn’t appreciate in the slightest. 

Seokjin nervously swallowed down a gulp, glancing every so often towards his mother to telepathically cry for help. After a few minutes, he couldn’t stand being in the same room as his father, it was suffocating, and so he gave out an excuse regarding how late for lessons he was and how education was of utmost importance, excusing himself before exiting the room.

Truthfully, it felt as if the walls were closing in on him, he was trapped in his own home. He patiently waited by the door for his mother to see her way out, calling her attention once the doors eventually swung open. 

“Mother, I’d like to speak to you regarding something salient.” 

His mother, despite how surprised she was to find her son waiting for her behind the huge doors, nodded her head and asked Seokjin to follow her towards his own bedroom for maximum privacy. This was one of the downsides living in such a huge castle, there were too much listening ears and wandering eyes. 

As soon as the door shut, Seokjin paced around the room, nervous as to how his mother was going to accept such a huge revelation. He sucked in a deep breath, asking his mother to have a seat while he went through the viable options in his head. 

Honesty and integrity were the key elements to freedom, as his mother once told him. Seokjin decided that the best route to go with was candid but sincere honesty. 

“Mother, I have a confession to make. But promise me you won’t see me in another light after I confess.”

Seokjin’s mother nodded her head, giving him the final push as he unbosomed himself to her. 

“I think.. I like men.” He was too nervous to face her and see her potentially horrified expression. Homosexuality was taboo as a topic of discussion, so much more taboo to find out that one of the members of the royal family was gay. 
The longer she kept her silence, the more anxious Seokjin grew. Since the cat was out of the bag, he disclosed another thing that weighed heavily on his mind. 

“I can’t get married. I refuse to. Especially not to someone who I don’t even love.” 

“Seokjin-ah, my darling, my only child.” The queen stood up and pulled her son closer to her, he’s grown taller in the last few years and she couldn’t hold him in his arms like how she used to. Her baby grew up before her very eyes, and now he knew what he wanted out of life, whether it was the path she and her husband preferred or not, it didn’t erase the fact that he was older and wiser now to make these decisions for himself. There was only one solution to this situation, one which would immensely break her heart. 

“You have to escape.” 

He looked at her with pure bewilderment, confused as to why her first reaction was one wherein Seokjin had to flee. 

“Escape?” 

“Your father,” She shook his head in disdain. “He would kill you if he ever found out about this. As beautiful as this world is, it is also undeniably cruel and filled with deplorable judgements.” She brushed the back of her hand against Seokjin’s cheek, a touch overflowing with boundless adoration a mother holds for her child. “I don’t want a future wherein you, my dear, will fall prey to those judgements. And I would rather lay down my life before I let anyone, even your father, lay a finger on you.” She paused, unable to conceal the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. “The engagement party is tomorrow, and you know how once the date is set, there’s no turning back. I wish there was more options available, my love, but unfortunately this is the only one I could think of considering the situation. Don’t be like me, never ever settle. Don’t trap yourself in a loveless marriage.” 

“Run away with me. We can start anew, somewhere far off.” He begged. 

She offered him a small smile, for it was the only thing she could provide for her son. “You very well know that I would want nothing more than to live a new life, if only leaving was an option for me.” 

“Why cant you? Why do you choose to stay even when father is the way he is? The killings, the greed, the women on the side.. Why?” Seokjin was struggling to fight back tears of his own, he couldn’t comprehend why a good woman like his mother would choose to remain by his father’s side when he didn’t deserve an ounce of her love. 

“Because my Seokjinnie, even if it was a loveless marriage, I eventually fell in love. And love, well, it makes you do foolish things. I have an obligation as the queen of this kingdom, but that doesn’t mean I would put my own child at risk. Pack your belongings, we’ll sneak out before sunset.” 

“Before sunset?” Seokjin glanced out the window, he only had about an hour left before the sun went down and that wasn’t enough time to sneak out and bid Taehyung farewell. “But my friend..” His hesitancy alone was louder than words could ever supply, Seokjin’s mother understood without him having to tell her anything further. 

“Your friend will understand. I’m sure your friend wouldn’t want you to be placed in any grave danger as well. If your paths are aligned, and your connection is as strong as you believe it to be, then fate will lead you back together.” 
It was difficult enough to find out that this could be the last time he would see his mother, and it made leaving even harder knowing that he wouldn’t even be able to relay to Taehyung that he was leaving. He pulled his mother closer, giving her a peck on the head as he mouthed the words thank you, leaving her visibly shuffling to keep her composure and fight back the tears. 

“I’ll go ahead and make the necessary preparations for your escape route.  Please don’t leave the castle before then as to not raise any suspicions.” 

She quietly slipped out of the room, while Seokjin fought against the inescapable pang in his heart, guilt eating him up alive that he wouldn’t be able to see Taehyung one last time before he disappeared from his life. 

Life was indeed cruel, the moment he realized he loved Taehyung, it was never followed up by an opportunity to pass these feelings on to him. What wad the point of these feelings suddenly emerging when he had no other options as to what he could do with it than to keep them to himself? 

He sighed as he plopped himself down on the bed, head thumping against the soft pillow, he then realized that he didn’t have the time to be lazing around when he was set to leave the kingdom at any given time. He couldn’t bring his wealth with him, and decided to go with sentimental keepsakes instead, like a bookmark with pressed flowers from the meadow he frequented with Taehyung, Taehyung gave it to Seokjin as a present during his 16th birthday, and he’s kept it on top of his bedside table ever since. It was the first item he packed inside his rucksack, followed by essentials which didn’t look too fancy and were vital for his survival. Truthfully, Seokjin had no idea where he was going to end up, but he would rather live in the unknown rather than seal with fate with a woman he was inclined to share the rest of his life with. 
He didn’t have any emotional attachments to a place which he detested so much, bidding farewell to the stone walls he was accustomed to was barely an ordeal for Seokjin, his mother escorted him towards the backyard gate, mainly used by the castle’s staff, it was the furthest she could go. She held Seokjin in her arms for the last time in what looked to be a long while, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. 

“Be safe, wherever you go, please be safe. May the gods be by your side all throughout your journey, my son.” 

“Are you sure you don’t want to come along with me? Are you going to be alright on your own?” He hesitantly asked, reluctant to leave his mother by herself. 

She smiled, reassuring Seokjin that his only concern should be himself. “I’ve survived long enough to watch you blossom into the man you are today, a man who isn’t afraid to be true to himself. I’ll survive the rest of my years just fine. Now go, run off and don’t look back. Make a life for yourself, Seokjin-ah. I have faith that I’ll be fortunate enough to see you again someday.” She choked out. The decision to send her son off to a world filled with the unknown was petrifying, but if she didn’t do this, Seokjin would live his life miserably and her heart would slowly break on a daily basis. This was the only parting gift she could offer to her son: a life of freedom. A future with no restraints. She knew her son didn’t want the throne, much less an arranged marriage, this was the least she could do for him. 

Seokjin embraced her one last time before following a chambermaid his mother trusted enough to lead him out of the castle discreetly. 
“I love you, mother. I will live well, I’ll live for the both of us.” He smiled before slipping past the large trees, his silhouette gradually disappearing from her sight. 

On his way to the town, Seokjin was tempted during several occasions to make a run for it and see Taehyung one last time, but he was constantly reminded that this would be his one chance to escape his fate, if he got caught, he would be engaged before nightfall arrived. He suppressed the urge, steeling his intent to escape for now. He was brought to the town’s pier, a ship was being loaded and he quizzically glanced at the chambermaid assisting him. 

“The port?”

“Yes, a childhood friend of mine works in that ship. He agreed to let you on board. Don’t worry though, I didn’t disclose your real identity.” She introduced him to a tall man hoisting the sails on the ship, thanking him for taking him in under such short notice. 

Before she headed back to the castle, she leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Be safe, my prince.” Seeing as this was his last chance to deliver a message to Taehyung, he asked her for a favor. “If you ever cross paths with the equestrian’s son, please tell him I’m sorry.” Seokjin bore a sad glint in his eyes before dashing off further inside the ship. 

And just like planned, the ship soon departed the docks, leaving Silvyr just before the sun set. Seokjin rested his arms on top of the ship’s railings, watching as the kingdom grew smaller and smaller in the distance. There wasn’t much he would miss about the kingdom, but his heart hurt whenever he would picture the disappointed look in Taehyung’s face when he finally learns about how Seokjin fled without so much as a goodbye. 

 

~

 

It’s been ten years since Seokjin left Silvyr, ten years since he’s last seen his mother, or anyone remotely familiar. Ten years since he’s last seen Taehyung. Not a day goes by wherein Seokjin didn’t stop and think about how the younger was doing. Was he still training to be a renowned equestrian, following his father's footsteps? Did he still like to pluck flowers from the ground, take a whiff from it before placing it on his ear? Was he still a picky eater that avoided vegetables as if it would be the death of him? 

Was he still as breathtakingly beautiful like the last time Seokjin’s seen him? 

There were too many questions that remained unanswered. Things have drastically changed in the last ten years, Seokjin went from being crown prince to discovering his love for adventure and the sea, thus deciding to work his way up to become a captain of his own ship. He started working as a young sailor, in charge of swabbing and ensuring that the decks remained squeaky clean, eventually dabbling into the pirate life, engaging himself in many memorable but life threatening scenarios. His life turned a complete 180 the moment he stepped foot outside of the kingdom, where a life of precariousness awaited him. His days as a pirate were fulfilling, every moment, every dangerous situation was a thrilling experience, probably one he would carry with him for the rest of his days. Unfortunately, thrills were fun while they lasted, after devoting years to never ending thrills, Seokjin eventually grew tired of it. He sought out for something entirely different this time, a life of quiet stability. He began working for various ships, saving every penny he earned, as well as the treasures he’s collected over the years, and after ten years of tirelessly working himself to the bone, Seokjin finally saved up enough money to purchase his own ship. 

Over the years he met new people, ran amongst different circles but only maintained a handful of these friendships and when it was time to select a crew he could trust with his life, it was a no brainer for Seokjin. He invited Yoongi along as his first mate to be second in command for his vessel, which he eventually named V, after recalling a conversation he had with Taehyung years ago when he asked Seokjin all of a sudden what name he would pick for himself if he ever lived a different life. Seokjin remembers not coming up with anything creative and ultimately gave up, but Taehyung answered with V. 

“I think I’ll go with V. It’s mysterious yet it piques your interest, don’t you think so?” 

Truthfully, Taehyung could have supplied him with any answer and he would keep it deeply rooted in his mind all the same. 

Yoongi was someone he met during his many pirate ventures, he was a rookie pirate, just like Seokjin, and they discovered over time the amount of similarities they shared, gradually becoming close friends thanks to their similar interests. Yoongi had a lot to bring to the table, he was sly, amazing when it came to handling the rest of the crew members due to his leadership qualities and he was quick witted. Whether it was dealing with rival pirates or crew mates of his own, he made it a point to always have the upper hand, his cleverness was something that Seokjin vastly admired. 

The next one on the list was Jeongguk, who Seokjin recruited as his watch leader, making him in charge of safely navigating the ship towards its destination. Jeongguk was young, but his age didn’t affect the many talents he boasted. Not only was he physically capable of dealing with problems should trouble ever arise, he was also really intelligent too. He made calculated decisions based on the situation, carefully considering every option possible before reaching a decision. He was cautious when he needed to be and just as reckless when the situation required it. 

And the last one on Seokjin’s list, the hardest one to convince out of the three, Jimin. Jimin was captured on their pirate ship a few years ago since he was caught attempting to steal their newly acquired treasure. Once he was caught, he even tried seducing and charming his way out of it, the captain in charge fell for his honey dripping lines and eventually set him free. Although Seokjin was surprised that someone managed to smooth talk their way out of an otherwise, near death situation, he admired Jimin for even attempting in the first place. They engaged in idle chitchat while he was being held captive and discovered how Jimin was a certified bounty hunter who usually preferred to work alone, Seokjin mentioned in passing how it was his dream to own a ship to his name, and Jimin responded by saying that he was feeling up to it, if the timing was right, Seokjin could recruit him if he wanted to, and that was exactly what Seokjin ended up doing. After days of bargaining and trying to appease Jimin, he eventually relented, but this was after he caught a glimpse of the watch leader, Jeongguk. Regardless of the reason, in the end, Seokjin got him on board. 

They filled the roles that Seokjin needed to form a tightly knit group of trusted companions, ensuring them that whatever treasure they would stumble upon on the way would be equally divided and that the main purpose of obtaining a ship wasn’t to search for treasure. Gold would simply be an added bonus. Jimin looked at him in disbelief when Seokjin divulged that he wasn’t in it for the potential riches. 

“Then what’s the point of owning one of the most expensive and skillfully built ships that this land has ever seen if not for treasure? We could take over the seven seas with this baby!” Jimin exclaimed as he chased after Seokjin on deck. 

Seokjin bit his bottom lip, a small smirk escaping his features. Time has done nothing but enhance his already refined facial features. “I’m in search for something far more important than treasure.” 

“Is there something more important than treasure? Help me understand.” Yoongi chimed in, agreeing with Jimin’s sentiments. 

Seokjin had a faraway glint in his eyes, the vast blue ocean seemed endless. “I’m searching for someone, to put it more precisely.” 

Their eyes widened at the revelation. “This person must be extremely important to you for you to sail the seas just to find them.” Jimin noted. 

 

A few years ago, when Seokjin was still working as a crew mate, one of the sailors he met at another town was talking about how their last cargo delivery was in the kingdom of Silvyr, naturally, Seokjin was curious enough to probe for more information. He spoke about how the king was still as money-hungry as ever, and how someone at the tavern mentioned how the kingdom’s equestrian was no longer with them, Seokjin’s heart immediately sank to the ground. That was Taehyung’s father, someone he considered more of a father than his own. He asked the sailor whether he heard about the equestrian’s son and whether he continued his father’s legacy or not. 

“The person was drunk enough to mention that the kingdom lost another good looking fellow since the equestrian’s son moved to another town to train under another equestrian. But that’s basically the only thing I heard about the equestrian and his kid.” The sailor shared. Seokjin was relieved to discover that he no longer had to step foot in Silvyr again just to see Taehyung, but the only problem was, he had no idea where to start looking for Taehyung. Which was why he frequented every tavern he came across and asked if they knew anyone who fit Taehyung’s description. The last time he laid his eyes on Taehyung, he was still tall, dark and handsome, he briefly had to wonder if 10 years did anything to change that and if he was handing out inaccurate descriptions. 

In every new location he reached during his years as both a pirate and a crew mate, he searched high and low for any signs of Taehyung, but always ended up with a heavier heart whenever he returned to the ship empty handed. There were only a handful of equestrians who were talented enough to gain recognition, he was certain that Taehyung had been training hard enough to earn recognition of his own. This was the main reason why Seokjin remained hopeful all throughout, hopeful that Taehyung stayed faithful to his craft and sought out to make a name for himself which would make it easier for Seokjin to hear about his whereabouts. But the world was huge, and Seokjin was merely one man. He kept the hope alive that he would find him eventually. 

Seokjin and his crew embarked on their adventure as soon as the ship was ready to set sail. His friends were acquainted with one another and gradually got along just fine despite how different they were in terms of personalities. Jimin was bubbly and lively from the get-go, and kept their spirits high, whereas Jeongguk and Yoongi liked to observe from the sidelines. They began by venturing out to nearby areas from where the ship was docked, but after several towns and still no sign of Taehyung, they ventured even further off. They weathered turbulent waters, fought off numerous pirate ships that threatened to overtake their ship, got lost in sea due to navigations gone wrong a handful of times, but V was still standing strong.

A couple of months at sea, they reached a small town located at a desolate island blessed with an abundance of natural life. This town wasn’t led by any monarch rulers but by a village chief that was selected by other villagers every decade, it was a simple but fulfilling way to establish peace in Seokjin’s opinion. One he preferred rather than what he was used to in Silvyr. 

They docked at a quaint little pier, and the fishermen who witnessed their arrival were surprised to discover visitors since they rarely received any. Being in a desolate island certainly had its pros and cons. Seokjin hastily hopped out of the ship to ask around if there were any equestrians in the area, and was shocked to discover that despite being a small village, there was a small cottage located by the outskirts of town where proper horse riding lessons were given by a retired equestrian's students. There was an unavoidable throbbing in his chest once he learned about this, immediately asking for directions and the fastest route he could take, instructing the rest of his crew to find accommodations and purchase whatever they needed to stock up on. Deciding to check out the place for himself, he rented a horse and made his way a little past the main town, passing through a forest since he was informed that this would be the quickest path. The path was filled with gravel and stray rocks, Seokjin figured out how it was only accessible by taking a horse uphill since it would be too much to walk and climb on your own. He was breaking into a sweat by the time he reached the top, and saw a wooden stable in the distance. Seokjin silently thanked the horse and led it towards a grassy area to refuel the energy its spent on the journey, before lightly jogging towards the wooden area. 
It was huge, despite being isolated from the rest of the amenities which the town had to offer, the entire shed was surrounded by grassy areas which was ideal for horses to run freely. Seokjin tried his best to bite down the nerves that were threatening to slip out, every single time he came across a stable he couldn’t help but fervently hope to see a familiar face but was meant with disappointment each time. 

He hoped that this time would be different. 
Because honestly, how long could he keep this up? Ten years have passed and he’s been roaming around across both land and sea in search for someone he may never find again. 
He heard an indistinct humming coming from the stables, and his feet moved on own its accord, following the sound. Just like how the pied piper played its flute to attract children to blindly follow his footsteps, Seokjin was drawn to this mysterious humming. The stable was dim with the exception of a few windows which had light emanating through it. Crunching noises accompanied each step Seokjin took, as he craned his neck in search of the source. A man emerged from the furthest partition, back turned against Seokjin, it was a silhouette so familiar yet starkly different, but Seokjin knew, the churning in his stomach told him that his intuition had to be right. The figure continued to hum out an accordant symphony as he brushed the mane of a chestnut brown horse back to place. 

“Taehyung?” His trembling voice filled with uncertainty. 

The man stilled, as he turned around in the slowest way possible that time seemed to remain at a standstill while Seokjin waited as he held his breath. 

It was him. 

His unruly wavy hair was now slicked back and kept in place, his features were still the same but somehow enhanced at the same time. Taehyung really grew into his looks and Seokjin momentarily short-circuited at the sight. It was really him, in the flesh. A decade and several voyages later, a thousand of miles from where he once came from, Seokjin finally found Taehyung. Taehyung dropped the brush he was holding on to the ground, as it landed on a pile of hay. 

“P-prince Seokjin?” He stuttered out, rubbing his eyes a few times to make sure that his vision wasn’t playing tricks on him. 

Seokjin was about to step closer when Taehyung’s words stopped him in his tracks. “What are you even doing here? How did you find me?” 

He sounded annoyed. 

“Taehyung, I sailed the seas in search for you, thinking I would never find you and now I did..”

“And now you did. How long has it been since you left without a word? Ten years? Yeah, Ten years too late, Seokjin.” He squinted his eyes, his gaze was so piercing, Seokjin thought that he would go up in flames. Taehyung removed one of his gloves, throwing it down to the ground as he continued to glare at Seokjin. This wasn’t the reunion Seokjin was expecting in the slightest. He wasn’t expecting their first reunion, after all these years of not seeing each other, to be met with a fuming Taehyung. 

“Taehyung..” 

With the absence of his glove, he lifted one pointed finger up. “Save it. I don’t want to hear it anymore.” Seething with anger, he made his way past Seokjin, brushing his shoulder against Seokjin’s, and purposely coming in contact with it with force before trudging his way out of the stable. 

But Seokjin will be damned if he allows Taehyung to slip away from his fingers once again. 

“Don’t go.” His voice was weak. 

Taehyung let out a scoff, affronted by Seokjin’s audacity. “The same way you left ten years ago? I could never.” And continued walking out of the stable with angry stomps. 

Seokjin buried his hands deep into his pockets, Taehyung wasn’t in the mood to speak to him and he honestly couldn’t blame him. While figuring out his next steps, another person emerged from the entrance and gently tapped on his shoulder. 

“Excuse me, did you come here for Taehyung?”
Seokjin nodded, all signs of life leaving him the moment Taehyung wouldn’t hear what he came here to say, he couldn’t even blurt out an apology. 

A tall man with beautiful tanned skin warily eyed Seokjin from head to toe. “Are you his friend?”

“I guess I used to be.” The sadness in his voice was impossible not to take notice of. 

“Wait. Pardon my intrusion, but is your name Seokjin, by any chance?” His eyes widened at the realization, he had the same unmistakable features, just the way Taehyung described him in his tales. 

“Yes, that’s me.” He looked up in confusion as to why this person knew his name. 

“Oh. Good to finally put a face to the name. My name is Namjoon, I’m Taehyung’s friend.” He extended a hand as a formal greeting, and Seokjin did the same, not forgetting his manners. It piqued Seokjin’s interest that this stranger knew about him, so apparently Taehyung hasn’t completely erased him from his thoughts just yet. It gave him hope. 

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” 

Namjoon glanced over his shoulder, seeing no signs of Taehyung. “I apologize in behalf of Taehyung, he’s very.. emotional. Give it a few days, he’ll come around. May I ask where your current lodging is at?” 

Seokjin wasn’t sure where the rest of his crew was staying at, he could only presume that most of them were staying at the town’s inn. “I’m not too sure, I think my companions are either at the inn right now or the tavern.” 

“Would you and your companions like to stay at our quarters? We have a small area for equestrians in training and there’s still an ample amount of room left. Besides, going back and forth into town could be exhausting for both you and your horse.” Namjoon pointed out. 
Although Seokjin was hesitant to accept this kind stranger’s offer, the thought of traveling back and forth into town indeed sounded tiring. He mulled over his offer for a few minutes before eventually deciding to accept it. 

“Thank you for your offer, that’s very generous of you. Could I fetch my companions in town and come back for the night?” 

“Of course. I’ll have a word with Taehyung and try to knock some sense into him. As you may know, he’s quite the stubborn one.” Namjoon cited with a chuckle, and Seokjin knew this all too well. The corners of his lips unintentionally curled up at the thought of Taehyung having some semblance of his old self.

“He is.” 

“I’ll head out first then, thank you again for your offer. Hopefully Taehyung won’t scowl when he sees my face again later.” Seokjin jested, waving one hand to signal that he was heading back to town. 

Namjoon let out a loud breath of exhale, his hands positioned by his waist. Taehyung was probably at the same spot he usually visited whenever he was upset, it was a small man-made bathing area, supplied by warm water that originated from a spring located nearby. Namjoon had previously dug a hole deep enough to collect a pool of water streaming from the spring, and with the use of large rocks and sturdy gravel, he managed to come up with a circular area where people can leisurely bathe in without the need to travel towards the spring. It was innovative and the first of its kind, Taehyung was astonished when Namjoon first introduced his creation to him. 

And true to his suspicions, he found Taehyung sulking with half of his face submerged underwater, Hoseok was beside him, dipping his feet into the water. He could overhear Hoseok spouting words of consolation. 

“Taehyung, I ran into your friend.” Namjoon stated, observing his reaction. 

“He’s not my friend.” Taehyung dipped his head back, hair brushing away beads of water trickling down. 

“Is he your lover then?” Hoseok chimed in, teasing the younger but received a glare in response. Taehyung flicked his tongue inside his mouth, creating an annoyed sound when Hoseok began giggling, not intimidated by the slightest. 

“Regardless of what you view him as, he’ll be staying with us for a while along with his companions.” 

“WHAT????” He got up on his feet, standing up from the makeshift bath area. Tan skin glistening against the sunlight. 

Namjoon shot him a pointed look, tilting his head ever so slightly to the side. “You do know him don’t you?”

“Yes, but.."

“So wouldn’t it be proper etiquette to invite someone who is an acquaintance of yours to your home?”

“Yes, but..” 

“After a long and tiring journey, it would be heartless to not give him an invitation so he wouldn’t have to worry about lodging and..” 

“UGH.” Taehyung grunted out, admitting defeat. Namjoon could go on for hours and Taehyung would still be on the losing end of the stick.

“Fine. Do as you please.” He pulled himself out and gathered his belongings before stomping back to their home, ignoring Hoseok’s giggles which followed each footstep. 

Hoseok then proceeded to glance at Namjoon. “That was mean.” Yet his unfaltering smile said otherwise. 

“No, on the contrary, it was the right thing to do. You know how stubborn Taehyung gets. He’s spent the last year uttering this man’s name, do you honestly think he doesn’t want to see him again?” 

“I suppose so.” Hoseok agreed with his sentiments. “But do you really think confining them in a closed space is a good idea?”

With his lips puckered out, Namjoon let out a shrug. “I have no idea. I guess we’ll have to see for ourselves.” 

 

~

Namjoon and Hoseok first met Taehyung exactly four years ago, Taehyung came to their island searching for an equestrian to further enhance his skills. Both Namjoon and Hoseok directly trained under one of the most profound and well-known equestrians, whose name spread like wildfire across lands due to his impressive skills and personal achievements as an astounding showman. Taehyung was a wide eyed young man, awkward but adorable and would look at everything and everyone with fascination. His first words to Namjoon were, “I’m not from around here, but I’d like to train and become an equestrian my father could be proud of.” and Namjoon has had a soft spot for him ever since. Taehyung briefly mentioned coming from a far off land, and when asked about his reasons for leaving his homeland, he simply shrugged and said it no longer felt like home anymore. Later on, Namjoon correlated the fact that Taehyung has mentioned several times that his best friend left without a word and how the home he once knew turned lonely overtime. Although Taehyung would never willingly admit this, Namjoon had an inkling that the two scenarios were connected. Taehyung was extremely aloof and had his guard up from the beginning, showing little to no interest towards anyone besides Namjoon and Hoseok, both of which he would train directly under, but eventually, his walls slowly shattered. 
Taehyung was like a beacon of light, full of zest and willingness to learn, Namjoon briefly had to wonder why he was so hesitant at the beginning, almost as if he wouldn’t allow anyone to get close to him. 

A full year went by when Taehyung first mentioned Seokjin to Namjoon and Hoseok, he had a sad faraway glint in his eyes while doing so. He spoke about the friendship he shared with Seokjin, that despite the difference in social status, they still found a way to make it work. And it was like a dam that was suddenly given a small crack as an opening until it finally exploded, unleashing its fierce waters. From that day forward, Taehyung could not stop mentioning Seokjin. 

One particularly cold night, while the trio was gathered in front of a fireplace Hoseok made, Taehyung felt comfortable enough to admit something extremely personal to him. 
“During my years with Seokjin, I realized that I liked men.” Eyes intently focused on the glowing ember in front of him. 

“Did you like him?” Hoseok asked. 

Taehyung broke out into a smile, recalling memories which only he and Seokjin knew about. “I don’t think the word like could encompass what I felt for him. It was so much more than that. He was my first love, he just didn’t know it.” The smile gradually faded, replaced by an expressionless one. 

Namjoon and Hoseok exchanged looks of sympathy, not really knowing if they could provide Taehyung the solace that he needed and gave him time to continue speaking, but when the silence dragged on for too long, Hoseok couldn’t stop himself from asking a follow up question. He was already invested in Taehyung’s story, he might as well ask the questions swirling in his head. 

“You never told him? What if he felt the same way?” 

Taehyung pressed his lips together inwardly, lowering his gaze to the ground below him.

“Then I suppose I’ll never find out. He left before I could muster up the courage to confess.” He looked up to meet Hoseok’s gaze, which looked equally heartbroken even if he was merely listening to Taehyung’s story.

“Our story ended before it even had a chance to begin.” 

The hurt seeped through the cracks of Taehyung’s voice, Hoseok and Namjoon could both immediately tell how this Seokjin person left such a profound impact in Taehyung’s life, he really loved him in every sense of the word. 

“Awww Taehyungie!” Hoseok was close to tears when he took Taehyung in his arms to provide him with a warm embrace, conveying the words he couldn’t bring himself to say. 

“What if he came back?” Namjoon, who has been mum throughout the most part of Taehyung’s story, suddenly asked. 

“Its been years. I doubt he’ll come looking for me especially since I’m so far from where we came from.” 

“But what if? Life, you’ll figure out along the way, Taehyung, is filled with surprises. The most unforeseen things make an appearance when we least expect it to.” He supplied Taehyung with a small smile of his own, giving him a tiny glimmer of hope to hold on to. 

“That would be nice if it were true. He left without a word, I don’t suppose he’ll try looking for me after all these years.” Well aware that he sounded cynical, Taehyung couldn’t help it, he’s been hanging on to a loose thread of hope all these years, wishing Seokjin would return to the kingdom, but he never did. 

“You never know.” Namjoon cited with a shrug. “Your fates could be more intertwined than you think.” 

Taehyung fell silent, the roaring flames slowly dwindling down due to the night breeze. If he was being honest to himself, the one thing he wished more than anything, was the chance to see Seokjin one last time. But he was always stubborn to a fault, and this made it harder to admit things, even to himself. 

 

~

Nightfall arrived and Taehyung was pacing back and forth in his bedroom, frantically jumping out at every peep and noise. Seokjin would be arriving anytime and he wasn’t sure if he could handle being in the same room for him for too long without cracking. He could hear the heavy wooden door in front being opened, followed by chatter and heavy things being dragged across the wooden floor. Taehyung was sweating buckets at this point. It was Seokjin. 
He kept his ears pressed by the door like a lunatic in hiding, listening in as much as he could, overhearing Hoseok enthusiastically greeting Seokjin and his companions. 

“Taehyung? He’s upstairs in his room.” 

He heard Hoseok say in response, adding even more pressure to his stressed out state of mind. 
He couldn’t hear what either of them said next, but instead he heard footsteps heading up the stairs, Taehyung was tempted to hide underneath his bed but immediately disregarded the thought, he would look foolish if anyone ever caught him literally hiding from his problem. The footsteps were getting heavier and Taehyung felt like he would pass out from nervousness any second, but the door next to his room opened and he let out a loud sigh of relief. For a moment, he assumed Seokjin would come knocking on his door, he wasn’t certain if he was disappointed or relieved that he didn’t.

The door next to Taehyung’s closed with a thud, and Taehyung almost sank to the ground as the anxiety dissipated from his body. A confrontation was unavoidable, but Taehyung would much rather deal with it later, once his mind wasn’t clouded with anger. Taehyung pondered upon Seokjin’s true intentions for stumbling upon this particular land, could it be a coincidence that he found Taehyung? Or was it too much for a coincidence? There were countless of other lands he could have visited, a million other places he could have headed, but what were the odds that Seokjin found himself on the same island Taehyung was in? 

Either their paths were meant to come cross each other, or fate had a cruel and sadistic sense of humor. 

Taehyung stayed holed up in his room for as long as he could, even opting to skip dinner just so he wouldn’t have to face Seokjin just yet. He was aware of how immature he was being, but he would much rather be labeled as childish than to engage in an emotional confrontation with someone he thought he lost years ago. 
The noise was consistent even hours after dinner was over and done with, Taehyung could only assume that Hoseok proposed to have a few drinks while they were knee-deep in their conversations. There were instances when roars of laughter could be heard, but other than that, Taehyung couldn’t really make anything of their conversation, the wooden door standing in between him and the open space was too thick to overhear what they were discussing. Or he was probably the topic of discussion and they were speaking in hushed tones. 

It was nearing midnight and he overheard Hoseok yelling out “Goodniiiiight” at the top of his lungs, Taehyung could presume that he already had one too many drinks in his system, followed by footsteps ascending the staircase, and doors opening and slamming shut, proceeded by silence. Taehyung finally felt at ease enough to climb into bed without worrying about running into Seokjin, unfortunately the growling in his stomach was telling him otherwise. Maybe it wasn’t a wise idea to skip dinner entirely because it was impossible to fall asleep with a rumbling tummy. Since there weren’t any other noises coming from the other side of the door, Taehyung deemed it safe enough to head into the kitchen and whip up a quick snack for himself before going to sleep. He tiptoed across the corridor, careful to not cause any unnecessary noises, he even descended the stairs in feather-like steps, holding on to the railings for extra stability. Taehyung crept into the kitchen, relieved to sneak in as quietly as he could, but his relief soon vanished when he was met with a pair of eyes at the head of the table, awkwardly staring back at him. It was Seokjin, eyes squinted as he was presumably reading the label on the liquor bottle, Taehyung, for a split second, was tempted to make a mad dash back to his room, when he realized how strange that would appear. Pursing his lips together, he tried to conceal the fact that he was internally in a frenzy, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible.

Putting the amber bottle in his hand down, Seokjin focused his attention to the man in front of him.

“Taehyung-ah?” 

While Taehyung headed towards one of the cupboards in search for some food, head held up high.

“Oh. I didn’t notice you there.” 

It was such an unnecessary lie, they clearly made eye contact, but Taehyung felt like it was something he needed to say, just so he could have the upper hand somehow, in reality, he was merely fooling himself. And Seokjin was doing a darn good job at pretending that the lie was believable. 

“Would you like to join me?” His words were slurring a bit, yet it was still compromised with hints of hesitancy. 

Taehyung could either ignore the invitation altogether, grab his food and head back to his bedroom, or he could accept and face the music, and ask the question that’s been burning on the tip of his tongue for a decade now. 

When he really thinks about it, he’s been searching for an answer for ten years now, was he really willing to wait another ten before he stopped being so stubborn? 

The decision was already made for him even before he had the chance to ponder on his thoughts, he wordlessly took a seat which retained an appropriate amount of distance between him and Seokjin. 

Seokjin smiled, pouring clear liquid into an empty glass and handing it to Taehyung, Taehyung pretended that seeing the smile he’s been longing to see for so long had no desirable effect on him. 

“Thanks.” He muttered out. It was silent, and reasonably awkward for quite a while, the two of them were sipping their drinks in silence while avoiding any form of eye contact. 

Seokjin had enough of the silence. He spent five years of his life trying to forget about Taehyung and the memories attached to him, and the next five years of life forgetting how to forget about Taehyung. He made it his mission in life to search every nook and cranny he could explore until he found the man he was looking for. He was about to explain, assuming that an explanation was what Taehyung really needed from him after disappearing from his life without a word, but the words slipped from his mouth before he could do anything about it. 

“I missed you.”

As unfazed as Taehyung wanted to be, the words shook him to his core. He was expecting a greeting, a question asking how he was, an explanation, anything but that. He was already emotional to begin with. He sat perplexed for a few minutes, blinking away the tears that attempted to escape, there was so much that needed to be said yet he couldn’t think of the right words. 

“Why did you leave then?” Apparently, Taehyung could no longer prevent himself from blurting out the one thing that’s been haunting him for years. Sometimes he pondered on whether it was something he did, or maybe it was something he said, or if the reason behind it was entirely not related to him in any sense. Taehyung was hurt, emotionally drained from the constant thoughts that kept him up at night, and when his father passed away, it was the sign he needed to leave the kingdom of Silvyr as well, hoping that wherever fate led him to, fate would do the same for Seokjin. 

Seokjin braced himself for this moment, he just didn’t think it would be the first words out of Taehyung’s mouth after years of not seeing each other, but then again, Taehyung had always been known for his unpredictability. Tonight was no exception. “I want to start off by saying that if I had a choice, I wouldn’t have left the way I did, especially without saying goodbye to you.” 

Taehyung clenched his fists, for Seokjin knew, it wasn’t the goodbye that hurt the most, it was the fact that he left without one. 

“Its my biggest regret. Not a day goes by where I don’t regret not letting you know, I should left a letter, I should have insisted that I saw you one last time, I should have done something, I really should have. But I spent the last ten years going over the list of things I should have done, while I searched for you. I never stopped searching.” 
Taehyung felt his resolve faltering, crumbling down with each uncontrived confession. His head could argue with his heart until one of it conceded, but Taehyung knew that no matter how much his mind wavered, his heart still sought out Seokjin, even after all these years, his heart still wanted the same person. 

“Then I finally found you.” He said with a sad smile. “I’m not expecting things to resume to how it was before but..”

“But?”

“I want to make it up to you. With however you’ll have me. I know I hurt you, Taehyung, even when it was the last thing that I wanted, but I was in an avoidable situation wherein I had to leave the kingdom as soon as possible.” Seokjin stopped himself before he could blurt out the reason behind his departure. Emotions were already high enough as it was, perhaps revealing everything else could be disclosed some other time. 

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Taehyung sat back in silence. There were thousands of questions he could ask revolving around Seokjin’s ten year absence from his life, but for tonight, those questions could continue to remain unanswered. Seokjin has obviously had enough alcohol in his system and Taehyung was on the verge of having an emotional breakdown, for tonight, whatever Seokjin let slip out was enough. 

“Do you still ride horses, Seokjin?” He suddenly questioned.

“I do, why?” Confused, Seokjin asked in return. 
The chair’s legs squeaked across the floor as it was dragged back, Taehyung got back on his feet and began walking back towards the staircase, his hunger long forgotten.

“Meet me tomorrow at dawn. Let’s continue our conversation then.”

Taehyung concluded that maybe they needed a good night’s rest to give them enough time to sort out their thoughts and emotions before diving into a more serious discussion. The conversation was ten years too late anyway, what damage would another night in addition do? 

Taehyung waved one hand before taking one step on the staircase. 

“Taehyung.” Seokjin called out.

“Yes?” Taehyung responded without turning his head back.

“You’re still as spellbinding as I remember you to be, or maybe even more.” He cited with a fond smile, relieved to know that a decade did nothing to dull the bright sparkle Taehyung internally contained. 

Taehyung stilled for a few seconds before resuming his steps. While Taehyung was a rather impulsive when it came to his actions, Seokjin had always been the type to be frank with his words. He still possessed the ability to give Taehyung indisputable butterflies, which Taehyung did his best to ignore until he was back in the safety of his own quarters. He threw himself on the bed, burying his face on the pillows, letting out muffled screeches into it. Once he felt the butterflies calming down, he turned his head to the opposite direction, resting the back of his head back on the pillow. 

“Curse you, my prince. How could you still retain the same hold on me after all these years?”

Whispering out into the air, Taehyung was thinking out loud. He made the assumption that time probably took with it most of the sparks Taehyung felt whenever he saw Seokjin, but time did nothing of the sort. The minute he glanced back and was greeted by a familiar face, the feelings came rushing back in the form of waves, steadily consuming him. The strength of the currencies scared him, Taehyung allowed his anger to overshadow every other emotion, even when he wasn’t sure which angered him the most. 

The fact that Seokjin left and suddenly showed up with any warning. 

The fact that he was thoroughly convinced that Seokjin forgot about him.

Or the fact that his feelings were still so undeniably apparent. 

 

It’s been ten years, Taehyung has met and came across hundreds of people, none of which could provide him with even a fraction of what Seokjin was able to. The sparks only appeared whenever Seokjin was around, and this was a difficult truth to acknowledge. 

Taehyung forced himself to get some sleep, he would have to face a sober version of Seokjin at dawn, whether or not Taehyung was ready for it. 

 

At the crack of dawn, as the first rays of the sun was making an appearance over the horizon, Taehyung was diligently providing fodder for the horses like how his normal morning routine usually went. It was something he wasn’t assigned to do, but ever since he began training under Namjoon and Hoseok’s guidance, he eventually incorporated it into his daily routine out of habit. Taehyung grew up being fond of horses and this became a steady, unchanging fact over time. He was focused on coddling the animals when the sound of leaves crunching behind him caused Taehyung to check who was behind. Seokjin, even in his half awake state, was just as radiating as the yellow and orange hues of the crepuscular rays. The first and foremost rays of the sun which appear before the sun breaks over the horizon, Seokjin had always been Taehyung’s very own version of it. The first person he considered his friend, as well as the first person who brewed up butterflies in his system. 

“Sorry, did you wait long?” His voice was hoarse, almost as if he literally just rolled out of bed, rubbing his eyes with the back of his fingers. 
Taehyung was about to come up with a rebuttal concerning the ten long years he spent waiting for Seokjin but decided against it. He had to stop allowing his hurt to seep through and try to engage in a more civil conversation with Seokjin. He ended up shaking his head instead. 
He picked his favorite horse, a stallion which Taehyung eventually named as Tannie, it was coated in ebony along with a few spots showcasing the richest shade of dark brown, and Taehyung was especially attached to Tannie since he looked after him ever since he was a young foal. He hoisted himself up and comfortably positioned himself on the saddle, keeping his fingers loosely closed around the reins. 

Horseback riding always stemmed from building a strong affiliation with the right horse for you, which is why Seokjin took his time acquainting himself with the horses in the stable, stroking them individually and inspecting which one had the strongest reaction to his touch. He finally settled on a white stallion which kept to himself on the far edge of the stable. 

“That’s Wootteo.” Taehyung smiled to himself, of course Seokjin picked the most stubborn horse out of the bunch, he was at awe with how Wootteo gently reacted to Seokjin, even closing his eyes whenever Seokjin would caress it’s mane. Turns out Seokjin’s charms weren’t only limited to humans, but even carried over to animals. Which really wasn’t surprising since it was Seokjin after all, the crowned prince, the one person every man or woman desired. 

“Pleasure to meet you, big guy.” Seokjin stroked the horse’s mane once more, before climbing on top as he guided him out of the stable. 

Seokjin emerging from the stable, with one hand spread across his forehead as he attempted to block the sun’s rays from directly hitting his eyes, left Taehyung breathless. Even though he was well aware of the fact that Seokjin was indeed from royal lineage, he really looked the part as well. With or without the fancy royal garbs, he was dashing. Taehyung felt his heart skip a beat, or ten, who was counting anyway? 

“Sometimes I forget that you’re really a prince.” He couldn’t help but remark as he marveled over Seokjin’s beauty. 

Seokjin chuckled, bringing Wootteo closer to where Tannie was waiting. “Would it surprise you to discover how this prince became a pirate at one point in time?” 

Taehyung’s mouth was left hanging wide open. “I don’t believe you.” 

“Ask my companions then. Ask Yoongi! He used to be a pirate too! Or Jimin.” 

Taehyung began moving towards a field, heading for a steep hill in the distance, imagining Seokjin as a pirate, somehow he couldn’t picture it, but it’s not like Seokjin had any reason to lie to him. Seokjin, along with Wootteo, trekked behind, hooves clattering against the ground. They galloped in silence until they reached the foot of the hill, Taehyung disembarked from Tannie, securing his reigns on a nearby tree trunk, and Seokjin followed suit. 

They climbed a bit, following a narrow trail which led them to the top of the hill which gave them a good view of the blue hour, a few minutes of pure blue tainting the sky, just before the sun appears from the horizon. Taehyung brushed the ground, removing any excess dirt before taking a seat as he hugged his legs close to his body. The view instantly relaxed him, disposing of any negative thoughts that accompanied him from the moment he woke up. In present time, he found peace. In the distance, everything in sight looked so small and insignificant. Seokjin took the empty space beside him, leaves rustling as he brushed them away, he ensured that there was still a respectable distance maintained between them. 

“It’s a bit chilly. Are you cold?” He asked Taehyung, watching alongside him as the skies slowly began to add in splashes of yellow.
Taehyung shook his head, hugging his knees a bit closer. 

“I left Silvyr because I would die if my father learned about the truth about me.” Seokjin stated in such a casual tone, as if he didn’t just mention his father, his untimely departure and death in the same sentence. 

“The truth about you?” Taehyung stilled for a moment. Even if his eyes were focused elsewhere, he was intently waiting for Seokjin’s next words. 

An audible sigh was released. “Earlier that day, I admitted to my mother that I was..” He struggled to find the right words.

“You were?” 

“…Into men. I mean, I still am. I’m gay.” Truthfully, he and Taehyung never spoke about sexuality or preferences before, as taboo as the subject matter was, it was simply a topic that never came up in their discussions before. 

Taehyung felt as if the world fell from its axis, since for as long as he could remember, he’s always felt a certain way towards Seokjin, but assumed that since he was the crowned prince, also next in line to the throne, there was no way in hell he could potentially be into men. It just wasn’t likely in his head. But perhaps that was where the problem laid, Taehyung never explicitly asked, he only assumed. 

“I’m not sure if it’s disappointing to hear since you’ve known me for so long so maybe you’ve built up some expectations involving me, I don’t know. But yeah, that’s why I left. My mother panicked, rightfully so, and feared for my life and future if my father ever found out. You know how he is. This is why I considered your father more of a father than my own.” 

“He passed away.” Taehyung informed Seokjin in a calm tone, coming to terms with the fact that he was no longer with them. 

“I’m sorry.” It was the first phrase that came to mind. “He was a great man.” 

“He was.” Taehyung agreed with a proud smile. “And during his last days, he mentioned you a couple of times.” A surprising conversation he had with his father during his final days was one embedded in Taehyung’s memory. He was diagnosed with a disease and was told beforehand that he merely had a few months left to live, during one of the most crucial moments of his struggle, he summoned Taehyung inside his room. Taehyung did what he normally did and pulled out a small stool and stayed beside his father’s bed and held his father’s outstretched hand. In the middle of their conversation, his father unexpectedly told Taehyung that he knew how his son felt towards the prince, how he could always tell it was different and most importantly, how it was okay, how he should never be ashamed of what or how he felt. Taehyung cried that day and his father was there to provide him with the comfort that he needed, he felt a tinge of guilt since he should be the one providing comfort, but somehow, the roles reversed after the conversation that occurred. His father always had a strange way of knowing things that even Taehyung couldn’t admit to himself just yet, it just goes to show how amazing of a man he was, which was why Taehyung really looked up to him. Before passing, he encouraged Taehyung to find Seokjin and tell him how he felt, to which Taehyung retaliated by saying how absurd that was. The world was vast, how could he ever find him again? 

“You’ll discover, Taehyung-ah, that this world isn’t as huge as you think it is. If it’s love like I think it is, you could even freeze over hell and you still wouldn’t notice it, because nothing else will matter once you find him again.” 

It was one of the final conversations he shared with his father, one that left a lasting impression on Taehyung. 

“I wish I could have said goodbye.” Seokjin muttered out, voice weak and fragile.

“He would probably understand, knowing what I know now, there’s no doubt in my mind, he would have understood you. After all, he always had the biggest heart.” 

“So do you, Taehyung.” 

The atmosphere fell silent as the pieces slowly began to piece themselves in Taehyung’s mind, he finally discovered the reason behind Seokjin’s ten year disappearance, and although he convinced himself to be angry, he discovered that he couldn’t because he would have feared for Seokjin’s life too, maybe would have even encouraged him to flee like he did. 

It was a moment of understanding, a juncture of clarity. One that would prove to be turning point in his life. 

While the wind blew away the stray leaves that have fallen and made its way to the ground, it blew along with it the debris left behind from Seokjin’s absence. Any doubt and fear that once took residence in his mind, spurned away almost instantly. He was too hurt and broken hearted by Seokjin leaving without a word and it left room for anger to grow until anger was all he had left to hold on to. But now, he was beginning to regret the anger he manifested. 

“I’m sorry for leaving, Taehyung. It was the toughest decision of my life.” 

Taehyung shook his head. “I’m sorry for being angry at something I had no control over. The truth couldn’t have been farther than all the crazy ideas that popped inside my head. I should have known that you had a good reason for doing what you did, after all, it’s you Seokjin. Not some random man I just met, but someone I grew up with.” 

After all that’s been said and done, Taehyung felt silly, and honestly a little embarrassed that after not seeing each other for so long, he acted the way he did which was nothing short of childish. 
“I’d like to know about what happened to you all these years, if you’d like to share it with me.” 

Seokjin glanced at him, smiling as he did so. “Of course. There’s nobody else I’d rather share these stories with.” 

 

And so the two friends rekindled their relationship, picking up where they last left off, which was a hefty amount of time left in between. Seokjin animatedly spoke about the adventures he’s been on, from bounty hunting to purchasing his own ship with the money he’s saved up over the years. Taehyung listened in utter shock upon discovering how much Seokjin has been through over the years, while adventures were exciting, they were also equipped with unknown dangers. Luckily, Seokjin had always been cunning and sharp, these distinct traits successfully kept him out of harm’s way. Taehyung was living vicariously through Seokjin’s tales, almost as if he was with him every step of the way, and he appreciated the effort, it made him momentarily forget that they had so much lost time. Taehyung dove into great detail about how he pursued a quiet life while further enhancing his equestrian skills, and spoke about the lonely nights he had since his father was no longer around to guide him, he even briefly mentioned how much he missed Seokjin during those difficult nights. 

They continued to speak like time held no significant hindrance over their relationship, and if it wasn’t for the loud grumbling signaling from Taehyung’s stomach, they barely would have noticed how the hours gone by. 

They descended the hill in completely different mindsets compared to how they ascended it a few hours ago, both in uplifted spirits. The air between them was clearer and it felt as if there was nothing holding them back now. The ride heading back to the estate was filled with giggles and shy smiles, up until they reached the house. 

Once they entered together, heads from the dining table turned to their direction as well as knowing smiles from their friends. 

“Is this the man you’ve voyaged across the seven seas for?” Jimin asked, a coy smirk on his face. 
Feeling embarrassed at how every person in the room awaited his answer, a flushed Seokjin nodded his head. Yoongi could only chuckle seeing how such a ferocious and ruthless pirate transformed into this meek blushing mess of a man. 

“Nice to finally meet the man our captain has been relentlessly sailing the seas in search for.” Jimin added, ignoring the panicked signals Seokjin’s eyes shot him to keep his mouth shut. 
Although Seokjin looked annoyed, he said nothing in response to what Jimin had just said.

“I don’t think I’ve formally introduced you. This is Jeongguk, Yoongi and Jimin. I’ve been sailing with them.”

“Nice to meet you. Thank you for taking such good care of Seokjin.” He bowed to formally greet them, he unmistakably cited something so intimate, something a lover would usually say and everyone around him exchanged knowing looks along with smug smiles on their faces. 
Once he realized his blunder, he tried to clear up the air. “I meant as a friend. It’s just that I’ve known him for so long!” 

“I wonder if you would express your gratitude like that if someone took care of me in the same manner.” Hoseok teased. 

“Of course I would! What do you mean?” Taehyung exasperatedly shot out, causing the room to erupt in laughter. 

“Okay, okay. Everyone settle down. Join us for lunch, Taehyung-ah and Seokjin-ssi?” Namjoon took pity and decided to put a halt to the teasing. They calmed down soon after and ate lunch in silence, ignoring the occasional mischievous glances sent their way from their friends. Yoongi retold a couple of their adventurous tales as pirates, which caused everyone around him to listen in amazement. It was quite intriguing for Taehyung to imagine Seokjin, heir to the throne of Silvyr, to be involved in these tales of peril, barely escaping death during a couple of instances. Though Seokjin was a bit more on the roguish side whenever he was alone with Taehyung, he still maintained proper etiquette which was expected of him. So hearing this whole other side of Seokjin, who was plundering loot, engaging in sword fights, drinking until he passed out, was bemusing to hear. And if Taehyung was being honest, it was a little hot. 
He could clearly picture the man Seokjin grew up to be in his head, donning a scarf over his head, wearing a loosely unbuttoned shirt exposing more skin than he could ever imagine, a sword hooked on his waist. Taehyung was preoccupied fantasizing about the man sitting across him from the table that he failed to notice Namjoon calling out his attention several times. 

“TAEHYUNG. Yoongi-ssi here was asking about the horses, are you still with us?” Causing everyone to giggle. 

Looking sheepish for zoning out in the middle of a conversation, Taehyung quickly muttered out apologies.

“Its okay. It’s hard to not imagine Seokjin as a pirate when I already provided you with all the vivid details.” Yoongi cited with a snicker, witnessing how Taehyung blushed at the spot on assumption. 

“And if it’s any additional fodder for your imagination, yes, the captain looked as good as Yoongi made him out to be.” Jimin added, shooting Taehyung a playful smirk. 

“Did you..” He couldn’t stop himself from asking but quickly discarded the idea.  “Nevermind. It’s none of my business.” 

This amused Jimin. “Are you asking if we ever hooked up?” 

At this point, Taehyung was profusely turning into a pretty shade of pink, embarrassed that he indirectly asked. He could feel everyone’s scrutinizing gazes on him, including Seokjin, who looked shocked or even a bit scandalized at the assumption that couldn’t be further from the truth. Taehyung fell silent which meant Jimin already got his answer. He burst out in a manic fit of giggles, his small hands barely containing his laughter. 

“Cute. Hmm. Should I answer you? Or should I not so you’ll spend the entire day thinking about it?” He teased. 

“Do whatever you want. It’s none of my business anyway.” Taehyung responded, keeping his tone as neutral as possible as to not give away the fact that he was affected in the slightest. It was fine. Jimin was gorgeous, his confidence was one thing, but he had gorgeous features to back up said confidence too. Taehyung was fine. Who wouldn’t be attracted to the latter? He glanced at Seokjin who was speaking to Namjoon regarding foreign affairs and politics, and could imagine how Seokjin, who just confessed he was into men, would be attracted to someone like Jimin. They spent days, weeks, months, and maybe even years together at sea, it wasn’t impossible that something happened between them. The more Taehyung thought about it, the more it agitated him, and the most annoying part was, it’s not like Taehyung had any right to be annoyed in the first place. He hasn’t seen the man in a decade, surely someone as good looking as Seokjin has already had his fair share of lovers during those years. And even if Seokjin was seeing somebody in present day, Taehyung had no right to comment on his affairs. 

But these thoughts did nothing to appease the jealousy he was experiencing. He grew quiet while the rest of his company were preoccupied in their own respective conversations, meanwhile Taehyung was sulking as he poked the remaining food on his plate. 

Jimin noticed this. “Are you sure you don’t want to find out, Taehyung-ssi?” 

“No. I was merely curious, that’s all. It’s whatever.” He went as far as rolling his eyes to express a bit of his irritation. 

“Can we discuss something else? This is rather awkward.” Seokjin suggested, already sensing how rigid Taehyung’s movements were. 
But then his words got Taehyung thinking, why would things be awkward if nothing happened between them? 

Unless…

Taehyung ultimately lost his appetite. It irked him, and even if he couldn’t openly express this and he had no right to do so whatsoever, it annoyed him to imagine Seokjin being intimate with somebody else. He felt what he felt and that was all there was to it. 

He stood up from the table, ignoring how he managed to grab everyone’s attention by doing so. “I’m heading to the stables, I forgot to feed the horses.” Taehyung stormed out without looking back. It was beyond childish but he would rather be childish than sit there and allow his jealousy to consume him. 

“Wait, Taehyung-ah!” Seokjin called out, but Taehyung didn’t bother responding. “Jimin! Why did you tease him like that? He probably got the wrong idea about us.”

Jimin laced his fingers, raking them across his hair. “You’ll thank me later when you end up fucking in the stables.”

“Jimin!” Seokjin shrieked out at the inappropriateness of it all. 

“Oh captain, you’re so clueless. Go on, run after him. We didn’t travel all this way for nothing.” He ushered Seokjin to leave using hand gestures, a sly smirk never leaving his features. 

Although visibly frustrated because he couldn’t comprehend what kind of game Jimin was playing, he stormed out after Taehyung, rushing out of the front doors.  

“Jimin, what are you up to?” Jeongguk, who kept silent while the entire thing unfolded before him, watched how Seokjin frantically left the home. 

“Why does it seem like everyone here is clueless?” Jimin replied with a giggle, shaking his head in disbelief. He leaned back into the back of the chair with his arms across his chest as he glanced at Jeongguk, who was observing him. “Don’t worry, we didn’t hook up. I’m still single, Kook.” Suddenly winking at him, and Jeongguk felt like he was caught red-handed and was being called out for it, Yoongi rolled his eyes and informed them that he didn’t want to partake in their flirting and announced that he was heading back to his room. 

“What? I didn’t even ask if it was true!” Jeongguk cried out. 

“I know.” Jimin hummed. “But it’s not like that’s ever stopped you from wondering.” Jimin had always had his eye on the latter, but Jeongguk was always too oblivious to acknowledge his not-so-subtle advances. 

“What’s even going on here? There’s so much tension!” Namjoon broke his silence after observing everything that transpired. 

“Ah Namjoonie, some things are better not knowing.” Hoseok supplied, patting his hand across Namjoon’s back. “Preserve your peace, preserve your peace.” 

 

 

For an athletic person, Seokjin was still out of breath once he arrived at the stables, the loud thud his hand created as it hit the door frame startled Taehyung, who was deep inside the stables, barely visible from the small window behind him. 

“Taehyung-ah, are you in there?” He bellowed, as he headed further inside the stable, passing by a number of horses. 

Taehyung could recognize Seokjin’s voice anywhere, but had already begun to panic thinking of an excuse as to why he suddenly felt the urge to run away. Taehyung was never one who had a firm grip on his emotions, its been proven that he had problems concealing how he felt and was also a pretty bad liar. In the past, whenever he’d lie about being okay, those who were close to him such as his father or Seokjin, immediately saw past it and pressed further until Taehyung confessed. He feared that today might be one of those unavoidable situations, unless he finds a way to lie his way out of it, something which seemed highly unlikely. 

“In here.” He responded in a small voice. Insisting that the horses were in dire need to be fed was an option, a lousy excuse but could still pass as an excuse. Taehyung was no longer a child who couldn’t distinguish his emotions, he knew what it was, and as much as it pained him to admit it: he was jealous. Seething with an immense amount of jealousy. It was almost laughable if only he wasn’t terrified of what it all meant. Apparently loving someone for as long as he did had such a strong hold on Taehyung, that time wasn’t able to erase any traces of it. The moment his eyes met Seokjin, the repressed feelings resurfaced as if it had also been waiting for the perfect opportunity to do so. The prince was Taehyung’s first friend, the first person who really accepted him, his first love. And it wasn’t as if Taehyung never made the effort to move on and fall in love again, it was just that everyone seemed so bland in comparison to Seokjin, none of them gave Taehyung the butterflies he ruthlessly searched for. 

So there he was, standing in the corner of the dark stable, contemplating on what he should do about these unhinged emotions. The closer Seokjin was getting, the more Taehyung felt as if he had nowhere else to run and hide. 

“Are you okay? Why did you run off like that?” The natural light emanating from the window hit Seokjin’s face, making his features as clear as day. His brows were furrowed, forehead crinkled expressing his worries. 

“I..Uh..The horses were hungry.” Taehyung stammered out. 

“Do you have sixth sense when it comes to animals? Did they call out to you asking to be fed at that precise moment?” Seokjin boasted a look of incredulity, and Taehyung knew how unbelievable his excuse sounded, even to himself.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s really wrong, Taehyung-ah? Have you forgotten how I spent almost every day with you? I know when you’re lying.” He chuckled. “Your body stiffens whenever you lie, and you begin stammering out whatever comes to mind. In all honesty, you’re a terrible liar.” 

At the back of his head, Taehyung knew for certain Seokjin wouldn’t believe his excuse, it was a pathetic one to begin with. He was cornered. Both mentally and literally, he found himself taking small steps backwards until his back hit the wooden wall behind him. Being cornered like this, Taehyung’s system seemed to automatically shut down, there wasn’t any spare time left to plan out his next excuse. Lowering his eyes to the ground, the words slipped away before he could retaliate with another more plausible excuse instead. 

“I had to get out. I was.. I was..”

“You were?” Seokjin probed. 

“I was…” Taehyung could try to lie, he really could, but then he would have to think of another excuse as to why he lied. In a hysterical state of panic, he ended up blurting out the truth.

“I was jealous. Okay?” 

Seokjin was unable to move a muscle, barely even blinking as he was trying to process what he just heard.

“You were.. jealous? Of what?”

And before Taehyung could produce a reply, he suddenly remembered Jimin teasing the latter. But even with this realization, it was hard to believe.

“Of Jimin??? Did you really think that we..?” 

Throwing his hands up in the air but avoiding Seokjin’s eyes, Taehyung was already dealing with his inner turmoil, evidently riled up by this.

“I don’t know! What am I supposed to think? You just told me that you liked men and Jimin is beautiful and I.. and I..”

“And you what, Taehyung?” Seokjin already had Taehyung backed up into a corner, he placed one hand on the wall, blocking off his left side. 

“And I couldn’t stand the thought of you with another man!” He finally met Seokjin’s gaze, but couldn’t decipher what the intensity behind it meant. His eyes were piercing into Taehyung’s. 

“Is it because I’m gay? Because I completely understand if this changes things, if this changes the way you see me.”

Taehyung let out a loud exasperated sigh in frustration.

“No. Why would that change the way I see you? I like men, Seokjin.” 

His hand resting against the wall grew limp at the unexpected confession. “Wait, you like men? Since when?”

“Since forever, Seokjin.” Taehyung rolled his eyes. 

Then the realization that Taehyung could have possibly been jealous not because Jimin was growing closer to his friend but for an entirely different reason, one which he never thought was possible.

“Look, even with the years we spent apart, you know that you’ll always be my best friend, right? Nobody could ever take that spot from you.” He stated, trying to pinpoint the reason behind Taehyung’s jealousy. If Taehyung agreed or reacted positively to his statement, then this would imply that he was simply jealous as a friend, case closed. But if he reacted in a different way.. well, Seokjin hadn’t thought that far ahead just yet. 

“Best friend? Did you think I was jealous because I thought Jimin was taking away my friend?”

Taehyung’s voice was low, almost speaking in a whisper. 

“Then what is it, Taehyung? If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to know?” 

Taehyung released a low snicker, bemused that he was in the middle of a situation as absurd as this one. He was growing tired of dancing around in circles, he’s been doing it since he acknowledged his deeply rooted feelings for the prince, but circumstances had never been on his side. Perhaps ten years later, when he was now wiser and knew that the feelings he harbored were still lingering, butterflies still prominent, the outcome would be different.

“I was jealous because I can’t stand to listen or even imagine you with anyone else. I waited for ten years for you, without any guarantee if you would ever show up and find me, but still, I waited. No one was ever good enough for me because they weren’t you, Seokjin. Before you left, there were rumors swirling that you were set to be engaged to some princess, and there was nothing I could do about it since you were next in line to the throne. Then you escaped, I got my hopes up that you would return someday, and you did, and here you are. Tell me that you only see me as a friend and I’ll keep my peace and never utter another word about this.” 

This version of Taehyung was daunting, outspoken and brazen with his words, this was the version of Taehyung Seokjin fell head over heels in love with. 

Seokjin set his free hand on the other side of Taehyung, completely boxing him in between his arms, Taehyung had grown taller over the years, almost at the same height of him now. He could practically feel Taehyung's breath fanning across his face as he inched his head closer to Taehyung’s. 

“I sailed the seas for years in search for you, what makes you think I’ll say that I only want you as a friend now when I didn’t even want you as a friend back then?”

Taehyung squinted his eyes as Seokjin continued to speak in low mutters. 

“I was going to confess to you that day, the same day I told my mother I couldn’t get married to somebody else. But like I mentioned earlier, I would die if I stayed. Taehyung, let me be frank, back then, I didn’t know what I wanted. I had a kingdom waiting for me, but I didn’t want that. I wanted you. Over the years that desire for you remained stagnant, increasing even, to the point wherein finding you was my only mission. And now I’m here, with you.”

“And now you’re here.” Taehyung repeated. 

“I would be a fool to let you go twice.” 

Neither of them would be able to tell who initiated it or who leaned in first, it didn’t matter, the only thing that mattered was how their lips crashed against one another and how the rest of the world fizzled out once it did. Their lips meeting was one that was years in the making, but once it did, it made it all the more sweeter, worth the wait. Taehyung wrapped his arms around Seokjin’s neck, pulling him in closer, and Seokjin did the same, until space was a concept that no longer existed between them. The kiss escalated quickly, but who could blame them when they had years of bottled up desires suddenly sprung open? Taehyung fumbled with Seokjin’s buttons and Seokjin did the same, tugging Taehyung’s garment over his head and throwing it down to the floor. Clumsy hands were preoccupied undressing one another until there were no traces of clothing left. There was a desperate sense of urgency to deluge one another. Shaky and disorganized movements clamoring to occupy any expanse of skin they could get their hands on. 

“I’ve never done this before.” Taehyung confessed while his neck was being engulfed by Seokjin’s mouth, turning various spots purple and red. 

“Neither have I. Do you perhaps have any oil with you? Or anything we can use.” 

Taehyung giggled, grabbing a small bottle of coconut oil from the back of his trousers which was discarded on top of one of the large stacks of hay laying around the area. 

“Don’t get the wrong idea, I use this to coat the horses mane to make it extra shiny.” He added, feeling a little embarrassed that he was more than prepared for Seokjin’s visitation, under the assumption that things could probably progress between them. 

Seokjin giggled in response, carrying Taehyung by the legs while he continued to dominate his mouth, bringing him over to one of the larger stacks of hay located inside the stable. He gently laid Taehyung down, his body lowering as it followed. The strands of hay prickling against his bareback caused Taehyung to giggle, and it took him quite some time for the laughter to die down. Seokjin gently pressed his lips and tongue against Taehyung’s supple skin, devouring every inch, making him forget all about the tickling sensation he felt earlier.

“You’re beautiful, Tae-ah. You’ve always been beautiful but over the years, you’ve grown even more beautiful. Seeing you again made me realize how much I really needed you.” Seokjin continued to pepper kisses all over Taehyung’s upper body, gently sucking on some areas. 
Taehyung snaked one arm around Seokjin’s neck, drawing him even closer to his face, looking up at him with a smile.

“So are you, my prince. You have always been the epitome of beauty. And hearing about your tales as a pirate.. Well, it left little to the imagination.” 

Seokjin’s brows shot up, amused at the revelation. “Imagining me as a pirate turns you on?”

Taehyung sucked in a breath, his giggles still managing a way to escape. “I guess it does.”

One of Seokjin’s hand grazed against Taehyung’s thigh, climbing up higher and higher until it landed on Taehyung’s hips, his fingers dipped against the curve of the bone. Seokjin lowered himself, getting off the stack and settling himself on the ground, he positioned himself in between Taehyung’s legs, spreading them out until he had enough room to insert himself in the middle. Testing out the waters, with the use of his moist tongue, Seokjin licked Taehyung’s entrance upwards, getting a general feel of things. One meager lick was enough to make Taehyung moan out loud, imploring Seokjin to continue until his licks gradually picked up the pace. Taehyung lifted his head up, watching Seokjin move in between his legs, once Seokjin was comfortable enough, he began experimenting by plunging his tongue deeper, thrusting it inside Taehyung’s entrance. It took Taehyung every ounce of self restraint to not rest his head back since he wanted to be in the moment with Seokjin, wanted to witness his reactions with his own eyes. The warm wet tongue infiltrating him, leaving him drenched and quivering from pleasure was a sensation he would never forget. Taehyung was biting down hard on his lower lip, drawing out a bit of blood as he tried to suppress his moans back, he wasn’t entirely sure how loud he was being, but could only presume that he would eventually moan out louder. 

While Seokjin’s tongue was still swirling inside Taehyung, exploring and keeping his entrance warm, he slowly inserted a finger, causing Taehyung to tilt his head back as a lewd cry of pleasure escaped his lips. With how wet it previously was, the insertion hardly hurt at all, in fact, it felt good. Seokjin decided to then insert another finger, darting it in and out in a timely manner with his tongue still circulating around the proximity. Taehyung grabbed a fistful of hair, grinding his entrance down to meet Seokjin’s thrusts, letting out the most feral sounds that even Taehyung couldn’t believe was coming from him. With Seokjin hungrily lapping against Taehyung’s core, leaving him panting and frantically losing his other senses, Seokjin proceeded to insert another finger, and Taehyung was writhing under his touch, body being transported to unknown places with waves of pleasure that took Taehyung by storm. 

“S-Seokjin. I.. Uh.. Ahh.. I don’t even know what I wanted to say anymore, fuck.” He cried out, head and body reeling from a myriad of arousal coursing through his body. 

The walls of Taehyung’s entrance began to loosen up with the continuous activities being performed simultaneously, but Seokjin was a man on a mission, he wanted to provide Taehyung with the best pleasure he could, while his fingers continued to plunge in and out of him, his mouth hovered above Taehyung’s manhood, tongue darting out to leave behind subtle kitten licks around his manhood, successfully wetting the area. His touches were so gentle in contrast to how the pleasure it brought was nothing but brutal and steadfast. Seokjin sunk his mouth deeper, devouring inch after inch until he reached his limit, but even then, it took him merely a few more breaths before diving in again to take even more of Taehyung. It was a foreign feeling, one of which he never imagined he would be doing, but the sounds of pleasure coming from Taehyung along with how hard he was digging his nails into Seokjin’s back spurred him on. It was a strange feeling, but it was something he didn’t mind getting used to, he was aroused even if he was on the giving end of things. Slowly getting accustomed to the sensation, Seokjin experimented by lapping his tongue around, sucking sideways, fondling with the slit, each of which Taehyung was deliriously losing his mind over, he positioned his hand at the base of Taehyung’s manhood, stroking while he mouth did most of the work, his other hand continued to thrust into Taehyung relentlessly. There was so much going on, all at once, and Taehyung was practically seeing constellations and summoning every divine being known. He was begging, pleading, not for Seokjin to stop but for more, Taehyung wanted more until he couldn’t handle it. He ran his fingers through Seokjin’s unkempt and tousled hair, pulling every now and then whenever a bolt of pleasure coursed through his body. 

Taehyung was a mess, in the most devastatingly beautiful way. Flushed skin, hair twisted together untidily, he was biting down on his lips so hard that it was starting to turn red, leaving behind teeth marks. 

“My prince, I..”

Seokjin stopped, but not before taking one long lick of stripe across his length. “I told you not to call me that.” He smirked before resuming his business which involved granting Taehyung an insurmountable amount of pleasure. 

“Seokjin-ah. Fuck. If you don’t stop..”

He in fact, did not stop, instead Seokjin sped things up. Jabbing into Taehyung as fast as he could, while his mouth kept his manhood company, consuming it entirely. Taehyung’s toes were curling, back arching upwards as he mumbled out a ton of gibberish in between moans, the arousal was collectively accumulating as it coiled across his insides, and soon, he found instant gratification. He released warm liquid inside Seokjin’s mouth, while Seokjin remained unmoving, lapping down every last drop. It was unlike anything he’s felt before, and Taehyung couldn’t compare it to any other feeling, if he had to summarize the feeling, Taehyung would say it was like surrendering himself to the heavens while his feet remained submerged in the ocean. It was like being raised and revived but at the same time the immense satisfaction kept him grounded. It was no wonder everyone around him were fond of making love, it was a way of expressing your love and receiving the same amount of love in return.

 
Seokjin smacked his lips together. “Definitely worth the wait. You taste sweeter than any honey on this land combined, Taehyung-ah.” 

Taehyung laughed, covering his face in embarrassment. 

Once he recomposed himself, he asked. “Do you want me to return the favor and.. oh.” Suddenly looking down at Seokjin’s manhood that was leaking with anticipation. White liquid dripping down on the floor as Seokjin stroked himself a few times. 

“Do you mind if I make love to you instead? I don’t think I can wait any longer.” He sheepishly asked, Taehyung nodded, getting on all fours since he assumed that this would be the easiest position for beginners. Seokjin instructed him to get off the stack for a bit, as he grabbed a piece of garment he set aside and placed it on top of the hay stack, informing Taehyung that he could resume back to his previous position since the fabric would shield his knees from scraping against the prickly hay beneath. He was reminded yet again why nobody could ever compare to Seokjin, Seokjin constantly made it a point to make Taehyung feel like he was a priority, that he was a jewel among a sea of sand. Taehyung had to brush aside the fondness he felt for Seokjin since his arousal was growing evident with each passing second, he returned to resting his weight on his hands and knees while Seokjin grabbed the small bottle of oil Taehyung brought along. Pouring a decent amount of substance all over his manhood until it was fully coated. He lined it up in front of Taehyung’s entrance, teasingly poking it at first. 

“Are you okay? You sure you want this?” Making sure that it was consensual, as if Taehyung clawing through his skin and moaning out his name like it was his last task on earth wasn’t an apparent indication by now.

Taehyung giggled at how cute Seokjin was being.

 “Seokjin, I’ve literally waited a decade for this.” 

And it was all Seokjin needed to hear, he rested one hand on top of Taehyung’s bum, slowly slipping inside Taehyung as tenderly as he could, it was both their first time and Seokjin was well-aware of how it could possibly hurt Taehyung if he wasn’t gentle enough. The deeper Seokjin sunk in, the more grunts and groans came out of Taehyung, halfway inside, he asked again just to make sure Taehyung was handling it well.

 
“I’m fine. It burns a bit but I’ll be fine.” Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, he knew that pleasure would soon overcome the pain and he had to bare with it a little longer. He tried to relax his muscles as much as possible, until the stretching process was impossible to ignore, Taehyung relaxed himself by taking deep breaths in between. Once the hilt of Seokjin’s shaft managed to make its away all the way inside, he released a sigh of relief, and at a leisurely pace Seokjin began rocking his hips back and forth until the pain gradually lessened and Taehyung was beginning to find pleasure in the act, grunts were eventually replaced by obscene moans. When Seokjin was positive that the thrusting no longer pained Taehyung, he began to pick up the pace, the horses nearby were creating high-pitched neighs due to how much noise Taehyung and Seokjin were making. You could audibly hear the sound of skin smacking against one another as Seokjin’s hips continued to make contact with Taehyung’s rear end, producing one of the most sinful sounds either of them have ever heard. Thankfully, the horses were generating enough noise on their own, but it barely drowned out Taehyung’s moans and whimpers. Taehyung lowered his upper body, clutching his fingers on the stack of hay which hardly gave him any stability, while he kept his lower half up in the air, giving Seokjin a better position to submerge himself in. 

“My beautiful Taehyungie. So pretty, I could listen to your moans all day.” He cooed out, although he wanted to have a good view of Taehyung’s face, he concluded that it was better for them to probably start off with simple positions. 

His thrusts began to become more aggressive, ramming into Taehyung as he chased his own euphoria, and after a couple more of deep and cavernous shoves, he knew that the thing he was chasing after wasn’t too far off. 

“I’m close. Can I.. inside you?” He whimpered out, barely able to string together concise sentences, his head was already hazy with the amount of arousal he was experiencing. 

“Yes. Want to feel you inside me.” Taehyung was breathless as he spoke, voice hoarse and guttural. 

It didn’t take long after for Seokjin to attain his release, he quenched his ultimate desires as the warm liquid filled Taehyung up, some of it trickling down his thighs. Seokjin huffed out breaths before slowly retracting himself, dropping to the ground as his knees got weak and felt like jelly after the strenuous activity. Taehyung could feel the liquid leaking from his insides while Seokjin handed him his shirt, telling him it was okay to clean himself with it, and Taehyung did as he was asked. Once he collected himself, hair still messy and beads of sweat still sparkling on his forehead, he snaked two arms around Seokjin from the back, encompassing him with his warmth which Seokjin immediately welcomed, resting a hand on top of Taehyung’s, giving it a small squeeze. 

“I guess we should talk about this, huh?” Taehyung mentioned, to which Seokjin chuckled in response, agreeing.

“Can I take a shower first? I have hay attached to my hair.” They laughed it off as they picked up their clothes, or whichever pieces were left untouched and clean enough to wear again before walking back to the house. 

They opened the front door as quietly as they could but it was useless since the front door had a few loose bolts which generated a loud squeaking sound every time it was flung open or close, Taehyung peaked his head inside to discover five pair of eyes staring back at him. Everyone was still seated on the dining table and held similar expressions on their faces. He could feel the heat creeping up his neck, entering the house as nonchalantly as he could, as if he didn’t contain visible straws of hay on his hair, he decided to do what any sane person would do in this stressful situation. He made a mad dash towards the stairs and never looked back, causing everyone to watch the scene unfold as they burst out laughing. A door on the second floor slammed shut, indicating that Taehyung had simply chose to ignore any confrontations and go about his business. Seokjin, on the other hand, was left bewildered on the other side of the door, Taehyung chose to make a run for it, literally, and there he was, dressed in his trousers and a thin undershirt, he couldn’t put his other top on since it was.. stained, so he ended up awkwardly holding on to it in one hand. Filled with uncertainty, he entered the house and caught sight of how everyone was staring at him, haughty smirks on their faces. 

“Fun times at the stables, captain?” Jimin teased before erupting into a fit of giggles. 

“I.. I don’t know what you’re pertaining to.” He knew just how disheveled he looked but still attempted to play it off as unperturbed as possible, even when he knew that the chances of anyone actually believing his words were slim to none. 

“Yeah, you.. uh, have hay on your clothes. And your hair.” Jeongguk added, feeling secondhand embarrassment for his friend and captain. 

Hoseok took one look at him and joined in on the teasing. “I hope you didn’t traumatize our horses too much.” Causing Seokjin to hang his head down low with all the relentless teasing. 

“I.. Um, need to get cleaned up. Taehyung and I have to discuss some things.” He announced before attempting his escape from the scrutinizing gazes and teasing remarks. 

“Right. Because your mouths discussed some things prior to returning, but I’m not sure how much talking you actually did.” Jimin squeezed in one last insinuating remark before uncontrollably laughing until tears were beginning to prick his eyes. 

Seokjin ignored it and made a mental note to reprimand Jimin for it later, rushing back to his bedroom to get cleaned up. 

 

Thankfully, by the time they were done, most of their friends had already gone back to their rooms and were out of the kitchen area, Taehyung was waiting for Seokjin by the front door, and once he saw Seokjin descending the stairs, he beamed at him. One smile was all it took for Seokjin to completely forget about the ridicule and teasing he was subjected to beforehand, he then realized once again how Taehyung’s cheery demeanor and how his smile was probably the reason why Seokjin fell as hard as he did in the first place. 

“Ready? Where do you want to talk? I don’t think it’s safe to discuss things here.. for privacy reasons.” 

“I’m sure you overheard. I should have made a run for it as well.” Playing with the lobe of his reddening ear, Seokjin jested. 

“Yes, sorry about making you take the fall.” Taehyung giggled. 

“I have somewhere I want to take you, could I borrow Wootteo for the trip?” 

They headed back to the stables, getting on their respective horses, Taehyung blushed once he passed by the makeshift stack of hay where Seokjin made love to him just a few hours ago.

Taking the shorter route, they made their way back into town, Seokjin suggested that they leave their horses in the grassier area located by the entrance so they could get some fresh air and sunlight while they waited, and they could go by foot into town. Seokjin held on to Taehyung’s hand during the walk, it was something he’s always wanted to do in Silvyr but didn’t have the freedom to do so. It was nice. Being able to walk around town with someone you loved without fearing that anyone might hold it against him. In this small town, they were simply Seokjin and Taehyung, not the crowned prince and the equestrian’s son. 

Seokjin led Taehyung past the residential area as well as the markets, up until they reached the far end of town, the docks. They picked a cozy spot by the pier, giving them a panoramic view of the ocean, and Taehyung caught sight of Seokjin’s ship anchored nearby. 

“V? You named your ship V? Did you perhaps recall one of our conversations in the past?” Taehyung questioned, admiring how such a huge ship was built and commanded by Seokjin. He’s gone a long way since his sheltered childhood, and Taehyung couldn’t help but feel an immense sense of pride. 

“Taehyung, I recall almost everything we’ve discussed in the past. Especially if its related to you.” 

Taehyung looked down at the wooden planks below him, a shy smile appearing. He had such a profound love and admiration for Seokjin, had always held these emotions towards the prince ever since he was too young to know what love was.

And then it hit him, similar to the gentle breeze that shot past him, there was no proper way to articulately convey how he felt for Seokjin simply because it was a feeling that had always been there. Naturally progressing over the course of time. No matter how grandiose or elaborate his confession was, it would all boil down to the same thing, he loved Seokjin. 

“I love you. I always have, and I probably always will.” Looking at the golden hour in front of him, just like sunsets that were bound to disappear into the horizon with each passing day without fail, so was the love Taehyung had for Seokjin.

Unchanging and constant. 

They’ve already surpassed and overcame multiple hurdles in life, choosing to live away from where they once came from just to attain the freedom to be themselves, the freedom to love, so Taehyung didn’t feel the need to complicated things further. 

“And as late as this confession is, I love you, Taehyung. I knew I loved you when they told me I had to get married, and just imagining spending the rest of my life with someone who wasn’t you.. I couldn’t. I’d rather leave behind my life than to imagine one without you in it.” It was pure, a confession that stemmed from the heart, one Seokjin had been yearning to tell Taehyung but never got the chance to. 

Taehyung rested his head on top of Seokjin’s shoulders, noticing how wide they’ve grown over the years they spent apart, but no matter how much it differed in size, it was still the same home that welcomed him with open arms. The sky in front of them evenly distributes itself as it reflected over the water, as it’s wispy clouds showcased the hues accompanying the dusk. Seokjin could swear he could see the colors reflected in Taehyung’s brown irises that were looking back at him. 

It took them ten years to find each other again, but Seokjin thinks that maybe they just needed to wait for the right timing for things to organically fall into place. Given the chance, Seokjin would willingly make the same decisions again if it meant securing a future with Taehyung wherein they were free to love one another. 

“You’ve never left my mind, Taehyung-ah. Left it in utter chaos.” He muttered out, kissing the crown of Taehyung’s head. 

Taehyung laughed, his ripple of laughter transcended across the open air, filling Seokjin with resolute warmth hearing a sound he’s been longing to hear for years. “I could say the same for the state you’ve left my stable in after you devoured me earlier. Not to mention, I think you just scarred my stallions for life. I guess we’ll call it even.” 

Silence ensued thereafter, somehow words didn’t need to be exchanged, as they quietly watched the sun descend into the horizon, across the blue depth of the ocean, Seokjin knew that he finally found the happiness he’s spent years searching for. The kingdom didn’t matter, nor did their social status in life, as long as he had Taehyung by his side, he was finally free. 

 

Notes:

This was meant to be a much longer, multi chaptered fic but I lost inspiration along the way. Truth be told, I just wanted a Taejin fic heavily inspired from their folios. Lol.

This is my first AU which doesn't have a modern setting, so hopefully I did okay?

Let me know your thoughts!